NewCold welcomes Coaldale’s business community

Posted on December 11, 2025 by Sunny South News

By Kristine Jean
Sunny South News

As NewCold prepares for its first shipment out of Coaldale in mid-December, the company recently welcomed members of the Coaldale Chamber of Commerce for an inside look at the newly constructed facility on Nov. 19.    

The cold food storage warehouse finished construction earlier this year and became operational at the end of June. The spur line, that connects the NewCold facility to the main CPKC rail line that runs parallel to Highway 3, was completed this summer and will soon see its first refrigerated car shipment out of the Coaldale location in the coming days.  

NewCold is one of the world’s largest, advanced automated warehouse and cold chain logistics companies, founded in the Netherlands in 2012. Its first Canadian facility, located in southern Alberta, will service all of Canada and international markets. The Coaldale location is one of the most advanced automated cold-storage facilities in North America.

The November tour welcomed a number of Coaldale businesses, including neighbouring ones near the facility, and featured two groups of 12 with a presentation by NewCold’s site manager, Michael Keeler, who provided an overview of NewCold’s operations in Coaldale. 

Coaldale Mayor Jack Van Rijn, who organized the tour between the chamber and NewCold, noted the strong working relationship between the Town of Coaldale and the Coaldale Chamber of Commerce, that continues to benefit the entire business community.

“I was pleased to arrange this tour for our Chamber of Commerce members so they could witness the innovation and future business potential that this facility brings to our community,” said Van Rijn. “Our council and administration worked tirelessly to secure NewCold’s investment in Coaldale, and it stands as one of the most significant economic developments in our town’s history. Sharing this progress with our Chamber of Commerce members through a dedicated tour was an honour and an important step in showcasing what lies ahead for our local business sector.”

With operations across Europe, the U.S., and Australia, and more than 15 NewCold facilities worldwide, the company continues to grow as global demand for cold storage, frozen foods, and high-tech logistics, increases. 

During their tour, members of the Coaldale Chamber of Commerce were given a look inside the NewCold facility, which included observing a team monitoring the facility’s mechanics and overall operations through multiple computer screens, ensuring every process ran efficiently. 

In addition, chamber members were shown video feeds that displayed ramps, pallets and loading areas and managers praised the team’s ability to find solutions (when issues arise), implement them effectively, and keep operations moving. They also highlighted the strong Southern Alberta work ethic that staff consistently demonstrate.

“Coordinating this tour was another example of how collaboration helps us move forward together,” said Van Rijn. “Ensuring that major investments like NewCold create opportunities not just for the town, but for the businesses that form the backbone of our local economy.”