Seafrigo expands with new Melbourne Airport cold chain facility

Seafrigo Australia Pty Ltd, trading as Mode Logistics across Australia, has officially opened a new state-of-the-art cold chain logistics facility at Melbourne Airport, further strengthening its position in the country’s food logistics and export sector.

The newly launched warehouse spans 10,000 square metres, four times the size of its predecessor, marking a major milestone in Seafrigo’s Australian operations. The expansion vastly increases the company’s capacity to process preload units more efficiently, extending loading windows across both day and night shifts.

“We’re no longer a step behind the competition - we’re a step ahead,” said Jason Farrugia, CEO of Mode Logistics. “The additional space gives us the ability to preload units overnight and again in the morning, helping us meet critical cut-off times and enhance our service reliability.”

Purpose-built to meet growing demand for airfreight exports, the facility incorporates multiple temperature-controlled zones. These include frozen storage (-16°C to -20°C), chilled storage (0°C to 4°C), and ambient areas, enabling Seafrigo to cater to a wide portfolio of perishable goods such as meat, seafood, dairy, horticultural products, and supermarket essentials.

“Until now, we had to turn down business because we simply didn’t have the space to accommodate more. With this new facility, we’re not only meeting current demand but setting the stage for expansion into new markets,” Farrugia added.

In compliance with Australia’s strict biosecurity framework, the facility features fumigation chambers and a fully enclosed shutter system on the docks. This biosecurity-compliant infrastructure is designed to safeguard sensitive shipments while meeting national biodiversity regulations.

Strategically located within a 400-hectare logistics precinct at Melbourne Airport, the new site offers seamless connectivity to Victoria’s road network, facilitating efficient access across the eastern seaboard and international gateways.

As one of Australia’s top three export service providers, Seafrigo is now positioned to scale both inbound and outbound services. The company also revealed plans to enhance its warehouse management systems and introduce advanced quality inspection processes later this year.

“Our investment in this new site underscores our commitment to operational excellence, customer satisfaction, and importantly, global reach. It will open up more opportunities in other international locations, especially those in the Middle East and Asia, which we serve from here,” said Eric Barbé, President and Founder of Seafrigo.