Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and Americold have announced a strategic collaboration aimed at improving cross-border cold chain logistics between Kansas City and Mexico. The partnership is designed to provide temperature-controlled rail service for perishable goods, delivering a more integrated and efficient solution for shippers and retailers.
Under the agreement, the two companies will offer customers direct access to an end-to-end cold chain network, designed to ensure reliability, efficiency, and compliance at every stage of transit. The service is intended to maintain optimal conditions for perishable commodities throughout the supply chain, reducing the risk of spoilage and maintaining product quality.
Integrated Facilities and Inspection Services
The collaboration will leverage Americold’s import-export hub in Kansas City, which is co-located with CPKC’s intermodal terminal. This hub will serve as a consolidation and launch point, where temperature control and rigorous handling standards will safeguard goods within precise temperature ranges.
Officials highlighted the inclusion of onsite inspection services for both USDA and SENASICA (Mexico’s National Service of Health, Food Safety and Quality). Importers and exporters will be able to complete required inspections and certifications at the Kansas City hub, bypassing delays and congestion at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Improving Efficiency and Reliability
“By combining CPKC’s seamless, single-line rail network with Americold’s temperature-controlled facilities, we are setting a new standard for cold chain efficiency in North America,” said Jordan Kajfasz, CPKC Vice President of Sales and Marketing – Intermodal. “Together, we are delivering speed, reliability, and peace of mind to our customers across the continent.”
Bryan Verbarendse, President of Americas at Americold, added: “This partnership strengthens the most important part of the food supply chain — reliability for our customers. By integrating Americold’s expertise in temperature-controlled logistics with CPKC’s direct rail network, we are creating a faster, more predictable, and resilient cross-border solution. This represents a meaningful step toward building a North American cold chain that delivers for our customers every day.”
CPKC’s direct, nonstop rail service further reduces handling steps, minimizing potential spoilage, temperature fluctuations, and security risks. The collaboration reflects growing industry trends toward integrated, technology-enabled cold chain logistics solutions that support food safety, regulatory compliance, and supply chain efficiency.
Market Implications
Industry analysts note that the partnership could improve overall supply chain performance for companies shipping perishable goods between the U.S. and Mexico. By combining advanced temperature-controlled storage with seamless rail connectivity, the initiative addresses both operational efficiency and regulatory requirements, which are key concerns for food producers, distributors, and retailers.
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