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REPORT ‘COLD CHAIN IS A LIVING ECOSYSTEM’ PRODUCT-WISE LISTING COMPANY-WISE LISTING PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ US$ Refrigeration BUYERS’ GUIDE 2026 Your reference hub to the refrigeration industry in the Middle East ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE www.refrigbuyersguide.com ccme.news/digitalYOUR SPECIALIST HVACR RECRUITMENT AND HEAD-HUNTING PARTNER www.careersbay.com CONTACT: +971 50 3580708 EMAIL: alissa@careersbay.comWELCOME CPI INDUSTRY, PUBLISHERS OF CLIMATE CONTROL MIDDLE EAST, ARE DELIGHTED TO PRESENT THE 2026 EDITION OF THE REFRIGERATION BUYERS’ GUIDE: Your reference hub to the refrigeration industry in the Middle East.editorial desk FROM THE Editor Surendar Balakrishnan surendar@cpi-industry.com Editorial & Admin Assistant Ika Maryawati admin@cpi-industry.com Advertising Enquiries Frédéric Paillé +971 50 7147204 fred@cpi-industry.com In Asia (except India): Judy Wang T: 00852-30780826 E: judywang2000@vip.126.com Design Head Ulysses Galgo design@cpi-industry.com Webmaster Chris Lopez chris@cpi-industry.com Database/Subscriptions Manager Purwanti Srirejeki marketing@cpi-industry.com Published by Founder, CPI Media Group Dominic De Sousa (1959-2015) Co-Founder & Commercial Director Frédéric Paillé | fred@cpi-industry.com Co-Founder & Editorial Director Surendar Balakrishnan | surendar@cpi-industry.com Head Office PO Box 13700, Dubai, UAE Web: www.cpi-industry.com Printed by: Jaguar Printing Press L.L.C © Copyright 2026 CPI. All rights reserved. While the publishers have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of all information in this book, they will not be held responsible for any errors therein. Your reference hub to the refrigeration industry in the Middle East Disclaimer: CPI Industry is not responsible for, or guarantees, the safety, reliability, energy efficiency, cold chain-enhancing properties, etc., of the products listed in this book; the onus is on the purchaser to carry out necessary evaluation measures before arriving at a buying decision. Dear Colleagues: Welcome to the 12th edition of the Refrigeration Buyers’ Guide. The Guide is an opportunity to receive updates on the direction of the refrigeration industry, including the new- normal of digitally connected and responsive cold chain systems, as Brent Melvin of RSA Cold Chain puts it in his introductory article. The Guide is, of course, what it always has been: A relevant storehouse of vital information needed in making buying decisions relating to technological solutions and services for the food, pharma and other mission-critical sectors. And it continues to offer value not only to sectoral end-users but also to refrigeration consultants and contractors, amongst other stakeholders. The cold chain industry has been witness to astonishing growth, triggered by the ambition and determination of the GCC region to achieve food self-sufficiency and by a surge in population. It is not just the increasing vastness of the cold chain industry but also the quality of development. And that is a heartening feature. In compiling the Guide, we have attempted to mirror the growth and progress. As always, the Guide’s shelf-life stretches from its traditional starting-point distribution at Gulfood Manufacturing, in early November 2025, all the way till the end of October 2026. Indeed, other events guaranteeing exposure include AHR Expo, Gulfood, Acrex, the Dubai International Food Safety Conference (DIFSC), The Saudi Food Show and the Saudi Food Expo, to name some. Additionally, the Guide will be distributed at the 12 th Edition of our very own conference on refrigeration – Food Chain (also known as the Middle East Cold Chain Food Safety Conference). In 2026, it will take place in October in Dubai to provide an update on cold chain solutions that can improve food safety and food security in the GCC region. As always, it is expected to attract top-level speakers from the region and elsewhere earnest about recommending and advocating better and climate-friendly cold chain-related interventions. In a way, the conference reflects the objectives of the Guide – to support socio-economic and sustainable development in the region. With Best Wishes, The Team at CPI Industry Refrigeration BUYERS’ GUIDE 2026 4 www.refrigbuyersguide.com5 TH EDITION 24 February 2026 INDIA EDITION ST 13 TH EDITION 7 TH edition 14 TH EDITION 2ND EDITION 12 TH EDITION THE 10 TH ANNUAL MIDDLE EAST 21 January 2026 | Dubai, UAE 24 February 2026 | Mumbai, India 16 April 2026 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 12 May 2026 | Dubai, UAE 23 September 2026 | Dubai, UAE 05 October 2026 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 07 October 2026 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 24 November 2026 | Dubai, UAE January 2026 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 15 April 2026 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 16 April 2026 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 03 June 2026 | Kuwait City, Kuwait September 2026 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 06 October 2026 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 21 October 2026 | Dubai, UAE 20 January 2027 | Doha, Qatar www.ccme.news/eventsREPORT 6 www.refrigbuyersguide.com T HE global cold chain is no longer a passive network of temperature-controlled facilities and vehicles. It has become a living ecosystem – connected, data-driven and increasingly autonomous. Whether managing frozen poultry in Europe, pharmaceuticals in the United States or fresh produce in the Gulf, cold chain operators face the same universal challenge: Ensuring product integrity while driving operational and energy efficiency. This transformation is being accelerated by the convergence of digitalisation, artificial intelligence and sustainable engineering. Together, they are redefining how perishable goods move across continents, through complex regulatory environments, and into the hands of consumers, who expect speed as well as quality. Historically, cold chain logistics operated in silos. Manufacturers, importers, transporters and warehouse operators managed their ‘COLD CHAIN IS A LIVING ECOSYSTEM’ Brent Melvin of RSA Cold Chain outlines the new-normal of connected, data-driven and increasingly autonomous cold chain systems that are boosting reliability, operational efficiency and energy efficiency respective segments with limited coordination. This fragmentation often led to inefficiencies – temperature deviations, delayed responses and duplicated infrastructure. Today, best practice increasingly favours integration across the value chain. Instead of managing cold storage, transport and distribution as isolated functions, modern operators are adopting a unified, end- to-end approach. Data moves seamlessly among systems — from production line sensors to warehouse management platforms and vehicle telematics — ensuring visibility and accountability at every stage. In mature markets, integrated cold chains are already delivering measurable value, with substantial improvements in order accuracy, inventory turnover and compliance. In developing regions, integration is gaining traction as infrastructure modernises and operators align with international standards for food safety and traceability. Artificial intelligence is at the centre of this shift, quietly transforming reliability, decision- making and responsiveness. In equipment management, predictive maintenance models analyse performance data, such as pressure readings, vibration patterns and temperature fluctuations, to identify potential failures before they occur. The move from scheduled maintenance to condition-based interventions has reduced downtime and product loss while extending equipment lifespan. For operators, this represents not only a step forward in reliability but also a measurable reduction in cost per pallet managed. In transport operations, AI-driven route optimisation is proving equally transformative. Algorithms assess live variables, including temperature, traffic, driver behaviour and delivery priorities to adjust routes dynamically. In multi-drop networks, these systems have achieved significant reductions in fuel use and delivery times, while 7 www.refrigbuyersguide.com BUYERS’ GUIDE 2026 maintaining product temperature integrity. Some networks even incorporate thermal load data and ambient temperature forecasts, allowing delivery sequences to be adjusted in real time – for example, scheduling drops in cooler nighttime hours or prioritising deliveries that minimise door openings in higher heat zones. AI’s most valuable contribution, however, may lie in its ability to anticipate demand. Traditional stock forecasting models rely on historical averages, but Machine Learning can detect subtle demand patterns that humans overlook. It correlates sales data with external variables — seasonality, weather trends and promotional activity — producing highly accurate forecasts for replenishment planning. This intelligence enables operators to strike the right balance between availability and shelf life, reducing waste while improving service levels and cash flow. Complementing these advances is the growing adoption of digital twin technology. A digital twin is a live virtual model of a physical asset that continuously mirrors its performance. In the cold chain, it can simulate the operation of an entire warehouse or fleet, tracking chamber temperatures, humidity, door activity and compressor efficiency in real time. When paired with AI, digital twins can model how operational changes might affect performance — for example, predicting the impact of a short- term temperature deviation on product shelf life, or calculating the energy benefit of adjusting fan speeds. Operators now have the ability to make data-driven decisions before an incident occurs, shifting from reactive to predictive management. Traceability and compliance are also evolving beyond manual record-keeping. Temperature logs, once maintained on paper, are now being replaced by digital systems that collect data directly from IoT sensors, providing tamper-proof, time-stamped records that are accessible in real time. When integrated with blockchain, traceability extends across multiple stakeholders, from origin to destination. Each handoff — from farm to port, port to warehouse and from warehouse to retailer — is captured on a shared ledger, ensuring transparency and accountability. This capability not only improves recall management but also strengthens trust between producers, logistics partners and regulators. The next stage of innovation will apply AI to these datasets to identify emerging risk conditions, enabling operators to act before a temperature breach or quality deviation occurs. Energy efficiency remains the defining challenge for cold chain sustainability. Refrigeration typically accounts for more than half of a facility’s total power usage, and temperature- controlled transport adds further load. With energy costs rising and environmental targets tightening, the industry is investing heavily in systems that optimise consumption and reduce emissions without compromising reliability. Smart energy management platforms now analyse consumption data across compressors, fans and defrost cycles, comparing it with external variables such as weather forecasts and tariff periods. By automatically adjusting operations, these systems have achieved energy savings of up to a quarter in advanced facilities. The improvement extends beyond reduced electricity bills; it REPORT 8 www.refrigbuyersguide.com The writer is General Manager, RSA Cold Chain. He is the designated Chairperson of the 12th Edition of Food Chain, produced by CPI Industry and scheduled to take place in October 2026 in Dubai. He may be contacted at <brent.melvin@rsa.global>. contributes to carbon neutrality targets and long-term cost stability. Refrigeration technology itself is also evolving. The transition from high global warming potential refrigerants to natural alternatives such as ammonia and CO 2 is well underway. When combined with variable-speed drives, screw compressors and efficient evaporator designs, these systems deliver higher performance with lower environmental impact. Some facilities are now recovering waste heat from compressors for use in defrosting or office heating, turning what was once an inefficiency into a renewable advantage. In parallel, the adoption of solar energy, particularly in high- radiation regions, is becoming a mainstream investment. Photovoltaic systems not only offset grid power but also reduce roof surface temperatures, improving the thermal efficiency of the building envelope. The next generation of facilities is expected to pair solar with battery storage to create hybrid energy systems capable of balancing peak demand and ensuring continuity during grid fluctuations. Technology alone, however, does not guarantee success. The shift towards intelligent cold chain systems depends on people — their understanding, adaptability and confidence in using digital tools. Leading operators are investing in training programmes that bridge the gap between operational expertise and digital competence. Warehouse supervisors are learning to interpret data dashboards, maintenance teams are developing analytical skills for predictive systems and drivers are being trained on connected telematics platforms. This evolution of the workforce not only enhances productivity but also fosters a culture of accountability and precision, essential qualities in an industry where compliance and safety are paramount. Across the Middle East, these developments carry particular significance. As the region strengthens its position as a global logistics hub, cold chain infrastructure is expanding rapidly to meet the needs of food, pharmaceutical and retail sectors. Operators are moving from manual, fragmented systems towards integrated, AI-enabled platforms that connect bonded and non-bonded operations, improve customs visibility and elevate regional food security. This progress aligns with national strategies aimed at diversifying economies and building resilience in essential supply chains. The Gulf’s combination of geographic advantage, regulatory alignment and investment appetite positions it to become a model for next- generation cold chain integration. The trajectory ahead is clear. The cold chain of the future will be intelligent, connected and sustainable. Operators who link their entire value chain — suppliers, facilities, fleets and customers — through shared data and predictive insights will achieve superior reliability and efficiency. Artificial intelligence will continue to evolve as the industry’s central control system, managing everything from compressor performance to inventory balance. Sustainability will no longer be a competitive differentiator; it will be a baseline expectation, with carbon performance and energy efficiency as core measures of operational excellence. What is emerging is a cold chain that not only preserves temperature but actively thinks, learns and adapts. It safeguards product quality with scientific precision, delivers operational consistency across borders, and does so with a reduced environmental footprint. For an industry once defined by refrigeration alone, this represents a profound shift — from cold storage to smart preservation, from logistics to intelligence and from necessity to strategic enabler. The modern cold chain has become the heartbeat of global food and pharmaceutical security, connecting producers and consumers through trust, technology and the seamless flow of information that ensures freshness, safety and sustainability at every step.ccme.news/event/foodchain FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Frédéric Paillé Co-Founder and Commercial Director M: +971 50 714 7204 E: fred@cpi-industry.com FOR EDITORIAL-RELATED QUERIES: Surendar Balakrishnan Co-Founder & Editorial Director M: +971 50 509 2457 E: surendar@cpi-industry.com 12 TH MIDDLE EAST COLD CHAIN & FOOD SAFETY CONFERENCE HARVEST I FOOD PRODUCTION & PROCESSING I TRANSPORT REFRIGERATION I FOOD RETAIL/HORECA/VENDING SOLUTIONS I CONSUMER I COLD STORAGE OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONPRODUCER UNDERSTANDING DEMAND FOR CUTTING-EDGE COLD CHAIN-RELATED SOLUTIONS AND MATCHING THEM WITH CONNECTED, IT-ENABLED TECHNOLOGIES 21 OCTOBER 2026 DUBAI, UAENext >