Emergent Cold has purchased New Orleans Cold Storage (NOCS). Already engaged in refrigerated warehousing operations in Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam and Sri Lanka, Emergent’s acquisition of NOCS has laid the foundation for formation of a comprehensive network of regional distribution and import/export port facilities across North America.
Since 1886, NOCS has specialized in temperature-controlled export and import services for global food processors and traders. Operating from four key port facilities on the US Southeast seaboard and Gulf of Mexico, the company offers a one-stop export process, including transportation to the port, blast freezing and warehousing, certification and documentation and stevedoring. An equally seamless service streamlines inbound shipments destined for US markets.
NOCS will continue to be led by CEO Mark Blanchard and his current management team. The Louisiana-headquartered company is the third regional platform for Emergent Cold, which includes operations in the Asia-Pacific and a recent investment to build an IQF fruit processing facility in Piura, Perú.
“Through this transaction, our 133-year-old company will enter into an exciting new chapter,” said Blanchard. “This is a tremendous opportunity for our associates as well as our customers. We hope to bring the level of customer service and customer relationships which NOCS is known for to many more locations throughout North America, and to support our existing customers with the same services globally.”
Emergent Cold, founded in 2017 with a mission to become a leading global cold chain services partner for its customers, is already among the largest temperature-controlled service providers in the southern hemisphere. Expanding quickly through a combination of acquisitions and greenfield developments, it has a network of 46 coldstores in six countries.
“We are ecstatic to enter North America with this investment in NOCS,” said Emergent Cold CEO Neil Rider. “This perfectly fits our objective of serving global customers with the highest quality of service and care. We will work with Mark and his team to grow the NOCS network of coldstores and services to be an even more valuable partner to both NOCS customers globally and Emergent’s global customers active in North America.”
Investment in Peru
The NOCS acquisition comes just a few months after Emergent announced a strategic investment in Latin America involving a facility in Piura, Peru, that will incorporate state-of-the-art freezing technology to provide world-class fruit processing capability. Additionally, import/export services will be provided at its strategic location near Paita Port, the country’s largest refrigerated container port.
“With this investment, Emergent adds Peru’s impressive fruit exports to its growing network of global services, and brings expertise and innovative solutions to its customers in Peru,” said David Palfenier, Emergent’s president for operation in Latin America.
