Food Logistics Market Size & Share 2026-2035

Food Logistics Market Size

The global food logistics market was valued at USD 145.8 billion in 2025. The market is expected to grow from USD 156.8 billion in 2026 to USD 312.2 billion in 2035 at a CAGR of 7.9%, according to latest report published by Global Market Insights Inc.

A growing population across the world is pushing the boundaries of food demand as many industry associations and government bodies report major growth in the food demand. With the rise in urbanization, coupled with increased disposable income and changing food habits, there has been a growing pressure on food logistics, especially in providing fresh food products. According to the FAO’s projection, world food demand may increase by 70 per cent by 2050.

FAO stated that much of the growth in global food demand is anticipated to result from increased income levels in areas such as Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. This increased food demand is creating pressure for efficient transport, storage, and refrigerated logistics solutions to ensure the quality of food items to facilitate longer and more complex food supply chains.

The expansion in trade has increased the pace at which more advanced food logistics systems are required. According to UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), global trade in food items increased by 350% from 2000 to 2021, which is significantly growing year on year. Food trade constitutes 8% of total trade in merchandise. In comparison to developing countries, which receive 35% of total imported food in processed form, developed countries receive 48% more processed foods in comparison to their total imported foods.

The segment of cold chain logistics has been identified as one of the most promising segments within the overall food logistics industry. Products that are sensitive to temperature include dairy products and meat & seafood, as well as pharmaceuticals. These need to be kept at low temperatures at all times. Industry reports have shown that trade associations have identified that a lack of infrastructure is a major bottleneck for emerging markets. Investments are being made to improve this sector. This has been identified as a key area for investment within both public and private sectors.

The process of technology adoption is changing the food logistics operations significantly, with digitalization helping to enhance the visibility, traceability, and efficiency of the entire process. The use of IoT sensors and real-time tracking systems helps stakeholders to track temperature, humidity, and other conditions of the shipments. Governments are enforcing strict regulations on food safety, prompting companies to adopt sophisticated technology to help them remain compliant. Blockchain technology is increasingly being adopted for traceability, especially for high-value and export-oriented segments.

Food Logistics Market Trends

Strategic alliances between food producers and logistics companies are improving the strength of their food logistics capabilities. Large food producers engage in strategic alliances for food logistics. For instance, in January 2026, Arla Foods and XPO Logistics announced the further extension of their strategic alliance. This will mark a new chapter in the evolution of Arla's chilled logistics operation, a future-proofed, more efficient, resilient, safe, and sustainable operation through a newly created UK Central Distribution Centre (CDC), which will cover all of Arla's UK chilled palletised products.

The concept of digital transformation is considered to be one of the emerging technology trends; logistics companies are increasingly using technology to boost their efficiency. In March 2026, Körber formed a technology partnership with NVIDIA to speed up innovation in the automation and logistics space. With the help of NVIDIA Omniverse libraries, Körber will build accurate digital twins of warehouses and logistics infrastructure. Digital twins mimic real-world environments to help optimize complex logistics operations more effectively.

There is growing interest in the use of artificial intelligence as well as data analytics in addressing the inefficiencies that exist in the food supply chain. The FAO indicates that it is estimated that 30% of the food produced globally for human consumption is lost or wasted at some point during the food supply chain. Precision monitoring, prediction, as well as quality control, through the use of AI technology, has been employed in the food supply chain with the aim of addressing the losses that occur. This technology has the potential of being employed in real-time decision-making.

The governments and food safety organizations are enforcing stringent regulations in the handling, storage, and transportation of food items. In this context, new technologies like blockchain and IoT are being adopted to ensure traceability. The industry trends show that traceability is an important factor in the supply chain, particularly in those supply chains where exports are involved.

Food Logistics Market Analysis

Based on service, the food logistics market is divided into transportation services, warehousing & storage services, value-added services and freight forwarding & brokerage. The transportation services segment dominated the market with market share of around 65.4% and generating revenue of around USD 95.4 billion in 2025.

• The transportation services segment has been the major contributor to the market, primarily because of the importance of this segment in ensuring timely and safe delivery of food products in complex supply chains. Therefore, it is one of the major contributors to revenue generation for the market.
• The majority of food chains, particularly those involving perishable goods like dairy products, meat, and fruits and vegetables, demand prompt transportation to ensure product quality and minimize product spoilage. The revenues earned from transportation services are higher compared to other sectors, thus emphasizing its importance.
• The major players are actively working to introduce innovations in transportation services. In this regard, CEVA Logistics and Avolta launched a sustainable transportation model pilot in Spain in July 2025. The project involves three Duo Trailer vehicles running on hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), which is a sustainable source of energy.
• Meanwhile, warehousing & storage services continue to be at number two because of their value to inventory management and cold chain management, but transportation is what enables the actual physical flow of food to market, which cements its position as number one. Arla foods and XPO’s recent partnership made an investment in a new leading UK central distribution centre (CDC) that will handle all Arla’s UK chilled palletised products.  

• The primary reason for the dominance of the ambient/dry logistics segment is mainly because of the bulk quantity of non-perishable food products such as grains, cereals, dry snacks, and other packaged food products that do not need any specific temperature control during storage or transportation. This segment enjoys lower operating costs, simpler infrastructural requirements, and an existing network of distribution, making it easier to transport ambient/dry food products. All these factors have made ambient/dry logistics the most popular segment of the food logistics industry.
• On the other hand, the chilled/refrigerated logistics segment is emerging as the fastest-growing segment, which is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.2% between 2026 and 2035. The growth of this segment is mainly due to the growing need for fresh and perishable food items such as dairy products, meat, seafood, fruits, and vegetables among consumers.
• In addition, urbanization, health awareness, and grocery deliveries through e-commerce platforms are creating a need for reliable refrigerated logistics services. As consumers are demanding fresh and ready-to-eat food, this segment is growing at a rapid pace to meet their needs.
• Regulatory norms on food quality, international trade in perishables, and advancements in cold storage and transportation technologies are some factors that are boosting investments in cold chain infrastructure. Accordingly, although ambient/dry logistics is the largest segment at present, the chilled/refrigerated logistics market has significant potential to grow owing to the criticality of maintaining product quality.

Based on food category, the food logistics market is divided into fruits & vegetables, meat, poultry & seafood, dairy products, bakery & confectionery, frozen foods, dry/packaged foods and beverages. The meat, poultry & seafood segment is dominant with a market share of around 26% in 2025.

• The dominance in the meat, poultry, and seafood segment is largely because of the high level of consumption and demand for animal protein products across the globe, especially in urban and emerging markets. The segment has a high level of perishability, which is a key driver in ensuring the dominance in the market, considering the high level of demand and consumption in this area. The segment has a high level of safety and hygiene, and it is a key contributor to the global diet, making it a critical area in the food logistics industry.
• The same segment is also identified as the fastest-growing segment in this market. The growth rate in this segment is expected to be 9.5% during 2026 to 2035. The growth in this market can be attributed to an increasing population, growing disposable income, and changing dietary habits with an increased demand for protein-rich foods.
• The cold chain and refrigerated logistics requirement is a prime need for meat products, poultry products, and seafood products because these products are highly perishable and sensitive to temperature fluctuations. Investments in refrigerated storage and transport vehicles are crucial to meet this prime need for meat products, poultry products, and seafood products, which is a cold chain logistics requirement.

Based on end use, the food logistics market is divided into food manufacturers, food retailers, food service operators and e-commerce & direct-to-consumer. The e-commerce & direct-to-consumer segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of around 9.7% between 2026 and 2035.

• E-commerce & direct-to-consumer end use segment of the food logistics industry is growing at a fast pace. The growing demand of consumers towards online shopping of groceries and home delivery of fresh, as well as packaged, foods, is contributing significantly towards the growth of the food logistics industry. This segment of the industry has a higher demand for specialized logistics solutions, as it provides a number of benefits like convenience, a variety of products, and time savings.
• There are several reasons which contribute to the growth of this segment. With an increased number of digital technologies and mobile commerce, it is possible for users to order food products anywhere and at any time. Moreover, an increased number of people moving to cities and living a busy lifestyle, more and more people are relying on home delivery for food products.
• The cold chain logistics have helped to meet the food logistics demand created by e-commerce and direct-to-consumer end users. Since consumers are increasingly looking at fresh, high-quality, and ready-to-eat food products to be delivered at their homes, investment in advanced refrigerated/chilled logistics has become an essential need to meet the growth trajectory of the e-commerce & D2C end users.

The U.S. food logistics market reached USD 40.8 billion in 2025 and growing at a CAGR of 7.6% between 2026-2035.

• The market in the United States, especially in the case of temperature-controlled and perishable food products, is significantly affected by the food safety and traceability initiatives implemented at the federal level. One of the most important federal regulations in the food logistics market in the United States is the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which has implemented more stringent food transportation, storage, and traceability regulations to avoid food contamination. The FSMA also includes a food traceability list, which has increased transparency in the food logistics of dairy products and soft cheeses.
• According to the USDA, perishable products like meat, dairy products, fruits, and vegetables require a cold storage and transportation infrastructure to reach the markets without spoilage. The research on the cold chain network by the USDA has identified the "core counties" where the burden of cold storage is concentrated, mainly because of their proximity to processing plants, distribution centers, and urban areas.
• The government is continuously involved in interaction with the industry players through organizations such as the Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA), which facilitates best practices and advocates regulatory harmonization worldwide. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is also actively involved in revising their guidelines to align with changing food safety trends.

The North America region is valued at USD 46.1 billion in 2025. The market for food logistics is expected to grow at the CAGR of 7.4% from 2026 to 2035.

• The food logistics system in North America is underpinned by a sophisticated cold chain system and regulations, especially in the US and Canada. The refrigerated transportation system is critical in the transportation of food products, ranging from fruits and vegetables to dairy products and seafood, over long distances to consumers.
• According to the Lineage, a global leader in the temperature-controlled logistics industry, stated that in the United States, transportation costs account for roughly 60-70% of total food logistics costs and approximately 7% of the total cost of goods sold. This is relatively low compared to some of the regions as per industry benchmarks.
• In addition, trade agreements between countries (for example, USMCA) will indirectly promote improvements to the cold chain through the standardization of safety regulations between countries. While there is no single cold chain policy document for Canada similar to the FSMA policy, the operational similarity of their import control regulations will mean that best practices for transportation and storage may be similar.

The Europe region holds 22.5% of the food logistics market in 2025 and is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 6.5% between 2026 and 2035.

• Currently, the European Union has regulations on the logistics side with respect to food, which are a combination of EU-wide regulations on food safety and national implementations. The first key pillar is the regulation on food safety, which is Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, which calls for HACCP-based food safety systems throughout the supply chain, which include temperature control in transportation and storage.
• In European cold chains, refrigerated storage, cross-docking, road and rail haulage, and distribution in urban areas involve specialized temperature control. Harmonized standards in hygiene, traceability, and monitoring help cold chain operators across the European Union to ensure the integrity of products from production to delivery. This reduces waste and meets food safety benchmarks.
• EU food import and export figures emphasize the role that logistics capacity plays, as substantial amounts of fresh produce and refrigerated foods are imported annually into the EU. This underlines the need for substantial refrigerated transportation infrastructure that meets EU quality and safety criteria. National bodies within countries like Germany may impose additional layers or schemes that are complementary to EU legislation.

Germany's food logistics market is growing quickly in Europe, with a CAGR of 7.9% between 2026 and 2035.

• In the country, the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety, abbreviated as BVL, regulates the requirements for food safety and cold chain logistics. BVL regulates risk management for food safety, as well as compliance with national and EU standards.
• Germany is governed by the EU food hygiene rules, which include Regulation (EC) No 852/2004. This regulation requires operators to develop Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) systems to ensure the safe distribution of foods, which includes temperature-sensitive logistics. This is one level that governs the structure, monitoring, and auditing of cold chain logistics.
• The country’s strategic location in the European trade corridors, as well as a dense transportation network that includes significant seaports and air cargo hubs like Hamburg and Frankfurt, facilitates the intricate logistics of fresh and cold food products. Cold logistics infrastructures involve multi-tiered temperature control mechanisms that range from pre-cooling at the point of origin to last-mile cold chain delivery, which are consistent with both end-consumer safety initiatives and EU documentation requirements.

The Asia Pacific region is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 9.1% between 2026 and 2035 in the food logistics market.

• Asia Pacific, as a region, has been witnessing a highly dynamic evolution of its food logistics industry, which has been recognized as one of the most dynamic markets globally, driven by its large population base, growing levels of urbanization, and increased consumption patterns of the expanding middle-class population, with a focus on convenience, quality, and safety attributes of food products.
• Urbanisation in the region has led to high levels of food concentration in these regions. This has led to the development of strong logistics networks that can cater to different types of food products, ranging from ambient/dry packaged foods to chilled and frozen foods. This has also been driven by the expansion in access to food in retail stores. This has led to the development of strong logistics networks to cater to these demands in these regions.

China is estimated to grow with a CAGR of 9.2% in the projected period between 2026 and 2035, in the Asia Pacific food logistics market.

• China has recognised the importance of logistics in the food system. The government of China published the first five-year plan for cold chain logistics in 2021. This plan focuses on improving the cold chain logistics network that connects agricultural production areas to cities. This involves developing national cold chain logistics base networks, improving infrastructure networks in rural and urban areas, and developing the capacity for temperature-controlled goods such as agricultural products, frozen foods, and medicines.
• Moreover, the plan targets the relationship between production areas and sales areas, which will improve the distribution of products as well as minimize losses. Finally, the emphasis of the government on ultralow-temperature transport as well as connectivity between major urban clusters indicates a push towards the modernization of logistics norms, which will improve the quality of food distribution.

Mexico is estimated to grow with a CAGR of 8.4% between 2026 and 2035, in the Latin America food logistics market.

• The guidelines issued by COFEPRIS specify the handling, storage, and transportation conditions for temperature-sensitive foods and beverages. This ensures that conditions such as moisture levels and temperature bands are maintained to preserve the product. Moreover, Mexico's proximity to the US ensures that its logistical infrastructure, especially around regions such as Laredo and Nuevo Laredo, adheres to international standards for refrigerated transportation to facilitate trade between the two countries.
• In addition to trade compliance, Mexican agricultural policies are slowly acknowledging logistical issues such as cold storage capacity and are encouraging investment to boost temperature-controlled transportation infrastructure, especially for fresh produce bound for North America.

UAE to experience substantial growth in the Middle East and Africa food logistics market in 2025.

• The strategic focus of the UAE government in diversification and maintaining quality in extreme climatic conditions requires an effective food logistics system to be in place. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) regulates the standards for importing, storing, and distributing food items in the UAE, which includes maintaining temperatures to ensure the quality and longevity of perishable items.
• Government regulations on food safety in the UAE are in line with international norms, which require food items, especially those in the chilled and frozen category, to be documented, temperature-controlled, and traced. This increases the safety of food items in the supply chain, especially those imported, which form a majority of the food items consumed in the country.
• This is seen in strategic national initiatives such as food diversification, logistics infrastructure investments, and improvements to urban distribution. This is evident in the development of logistics zones such as Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority and improvements to ports that incorporate temperature-controlled warehousing and refrigerated transport.

Food Logistics Market Share

The top 7 companies in the food logistics industry are C.H. Robinson, CEVA Logistics, DHL, DSV, Geodis, Kuehne + Nagel and Nippon Express contributing 22.3% of the market in 2025.

• C.H. Robinson provides food logistics services like temperature-controlled transportation, freight brokerage, and supply chain management. They help move perishable goods with tools for tracking, access to carriers, and compliance support in domestic and international markets.
• CEVA Logistics offers food logistics services such as temperature-controlled warehousing, transportation, and supply chain solutions. They handle perishable goods using integrated logistics, multimodal transport, and processes to keep products fresh.
• DHL provides food logistics services including cold chain transportation, warehousing, and distribution. They handle temperature-sensitive goods, manage international shipping, and ensure compliance with global standards.
• DSV offers food logistics services through air, sea, and road transport. They provide temperature-controlled solutions, freight forwarding, warehousing, and supply chain management for regional and global food distribution.
• Geodis provides food logistics services like temperature-controlled transport, warehousing, and distribution. They support perishable goods with logistics, inventory management, and handling solutions to maintain quality in domestic and international markets.
• Kuehne + Nagel offers food logistics services such as cold chain transportation, storage, and distribution. They provide temperature-controlled freight, supply chain management, and monitoring systems to ensure safe delivery of perishable goods worldwide.
• Nippon Express provides food logistics services including refrigerated transportation, warehousing, and distribution. They use integrated logistics, multimodal transport, and processes to maintain the quality of perishable goods during transit.

Food Logistics Market Companies

Major players operating in the food logistics industry are:

• C.H. Robinson
• CEVA Logistics
• DHL
• DSV
• GEODIS
• Kuehne + Nagel
• Lineage Logistics
• Maersk
• Nippon Express
• XPO Logistics

• C.H. Robinson uses its global freight network and digital tools to improve temperature-controlled shipments. It offers scalable solutions, strong carrier partnerships, and data-driven supply chain visibility.
• CEVA Logistics provides integrated logistics services and expertise in temperature-sensitive supply chains. It uses global infrastructure, multimodal transport, and custom solutions for the perishable food industry.
• DHL uses its global network and advanced cold chain solutions to handle perishable goods efficiently. It ensures reliability and follows international food safety standards.
• DSV offers flexible logistics services with its asset-light model. It has a strong global presence, efficient freight systems, and growing temperature-controlled food logistics capabilities.
• Geodis provides supply chain solutions with a focus on Europe. It uses multimodal transport, warehousing, and cold chain services to distribute perishable foods efficiently.
• Kuehne + Nagel specializes in cold chain logistics. It uses digital platforms and a global network to ensure visibility, compliance, and efficient handling of perishable goods.
• Nippon Express focuses on Asia and offers reliable temperature-controlled transport and warehousing. It is strong in regional food distribution markets.

Food Logistics Industry News

• In February 2026, Morrison bought SuperFreeze Singapore, a cold chain logistics company for the food & beverage and pharmaceutical sectors. This created Polaris, an APAC cold chain platform. The deal also included an automated cold storage facility in Tuas called SuperFreeze Tuas (SFT).

• In January 2026, Arla Foods and XPO Logistics expanded their partnership. They plan to improve Arla’s chilled network with a new UK central distribution center. This center will handle all of Arla’s chilled palletized products in the UK.

• In January 2026, Swissport opened its first perishables center in the UK at London Heathrow Airport (LHR). This center strengthens Swissport’s cool-chain network and supports the growing demand for fresh Atlantic salmon. Scan Global Logistics is the first customer to use this facility.
• In December 2025, Stonepeak launched Peregrine Cold Logistics, a new cold chain platform for the Asia Pacific and GCC regions. It aims to meet the rising need for temperature-controlled infrastructure. The platform will buy existing cold chain businesses and develop new projects.

The food logistics market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecasts in terms of revenue ($ Mn/Bn) from 2022 to 2035, for the following segments:

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Market, By Service

• Transportation services
  • Roadways
    • Full truck load (FTL)
    • Less than truck load (LTL)
  • Seaways
    • Full container load (FCL)
    • Less than container load (LCL)
  • Railways
  • Airways
• Warehousing & storage services
• Value-added services
• Freight forwarding & brokerage
  • Third-Party Logistics (3PL)
  • Fourth-Party Logistics (4PL)
  • In-house / Direct Distribution

Market, By Temperature Requirement

• Frozen/cold chain
• Chilled/refrigerated logistics
• Ambient/dry logistics

Market, By Food Category

• Fruits & vegetables
• Meat, Poultry & Seafood
• Dairy Products
• Bakery & Confectionery
• Frozen Foods
• Dry/Packaged Foods
• Beverages

Market, By End use

• Food manufacturers
• Food retailers
  • Supermarkets & hypermarkets
  • Convenience stores
  • Specialty food stores
• Food service operators
• E-commerce & direct-to-consumer

The above information is provided for the following regions and countries:

• North America
  • US
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany
  • UK
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Poland
  • Netherlands
  • Norway
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • South Korea
  • Australia
  • Singapore
  • Malaysia
  • Indonesia
  • Vietnam
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Argentina
  • Colombia
• MEA
  • South Africa
  • Saudi Arabia
  • UAE