Amid persistent inflation, shifting food inventories and a volatile policy landscape, the cold storage sector is gradually absorbing new supply and restoring balance. Lisa DeNight, head of North American Industrial Research at Newmark, in an interview with IREI, shared that “while there is a pervasive climate of macro uncertainty, depressed food inventory levels and elevated consumer prices, investment in cold storage remains active with cold storage sales volume on an upward swing year-to-date.” She noted that although “occupier demand is softer than in recent years, it has not dipped negative on an annualized basis.” These dynamics, she said, “reflect that despite shifting market conditions, cold storage is a basic need — critical infrastructure for the nation’s food and pharma supply chains.”
As food prices continue to fluctuate, cold storage operators are reevaluating their approach to leasing and rent growth. DeNight explained, “operators must balance h
