Cold Chain Storage for Agricultural Products

Frozen broccoli

By Bozhin Karaivanov on Unsplash

Cold Chain Storage for Agricultural Products
SectorMost major industry classification systems use sources of revenue as their basis for classifying companies into specific sectors, subsectors and industries. In order to group like companies based on their sustainability-related risks and opportunities, SASB created the Sustainable Industry Classification System® (SICS®) and the classification of sectors, subsectors and industries in the SDG Investor Platform is based on SICS.
Food and Beverage
Food and Agriculture
Business Model Description

Invest in or provide project financing to develop and operate cold storage facilities and refrigerated transportation systems for perishable foods. Companies active in this IOA space:

Tess Cold Chain Facilities: Established in 1992 being Sri Lanka’s first cold chain operator - engages in hiring out short- and long-term cold storage to exporters and importers who need storage facilities. As at 2018 the company has 45000 cubic ft of cold rooms of 500 tons capacity, and operates over 20 reefer containers.

Finlays Colombo Limited: Has been operating in Sri Lanka since 1893 and is the largest of its kind in Sri Lanka, with nationwide service capabilities that offer a cold storage capacity of 14,000 pallet positions.

Cargo Hub: Offers freeze Blast freezing facility up to -40 celcius level and caters into specialized products. This facility is linked to cold storage logistics services that caters to both local and international markets. The company is set up based on the experience of the mother company Taprobane Seafood Private Limited which is a leading fisheries sector exporter in Sri Lanka founded in 2011.

Expected Impact

Reduce post-harvest loss and increase value added agricultural exports

Indicative ReturnDescribes the rate of growth an investment is expected to generate within the IOA. The indicative return is identified for the IOA by establishing its Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Return of Investment (ROI) or Gross Profit Margin (GPM).
Solar-powered cold container: For fruits 56% and vegetables between 8-11%
Investment TimeframeDescribes the time period in which the IOA will pay-back the invested resources. The estimate is based on asset expected lifetime as the IOA will start generating accumulated positive cash-flows.
Medium Term (5–10 years)
Market SizeDescribes the value of potential addressable market of the IOA. The market size is identified for the IOA by establishing the value in USD, identifying the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) or providing a numeric unit critical to the IOA.
> USD 1 billion
Average Ticket Size (USD)Describes the USD amount for a typical investment required in the IOA.
< USD 500,000
Direct ImpactDescribes the primary SDG(s) the IOA addresses.
Zero Hunger (SDG 2) Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12)
Indirect ImpactDescribes the secondary SDG(s) the IOA addresses.
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9) Good health and well-being (SDG 3) Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8)
Sector Sources
  • 1) Department of Census and Statistics (2022). National Account 2015 Base. http://www.statistics.gov.lk/NationalAccounts/StaticalInformation/2015/Reports/Annual_A49/GDP_co_2010-2021 2) Central Bank of Sri Lanka (2022). Annual Report 2021.https://www.cbsl.gov.lk/sites/default/files/cbslweb_documents/publications/annual_report/2021/en/9_Chapter_05.pdf 3) Department of Census and Statistics (2022). Quarterly Report of the Sri Lanka Labor Force Survey - Second Quarter 2021. http://www.statistics.gov.lk/LabourForce/StaticalInformation/QuarterlyReports/2ndQuarter2021 4) United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHAO and The UN Resident Coordinator's Office (RCO) (2022) Sri Lanka Food Security Crisis - Humanitarian Needs and Priorities: June – Sept 2022 https://srilanka.un.org/en/185471-sri-lanka-humanitarian-needs-and-priorities-plan 5) The Global Food Security Index (2020): https://impact.economist.com/sustainability/project/food-security-index/ 6) The Public Investment Programme (2021-2024):https://www.npd.gov.lk/images/publications/PIP_2021_2024.pdf 7) The National Agriculture Policy (2021): https://www.agrimin.gov.lk/web/images/pdf/Policy/2021.03.27%20-%20NAP/NAP%20Web%20Version%20-%2026%20March%202021.pdf
IOA Sources
  • 8)Land (Restrictions on Alienation) Act no 38 of 2014 http://www.ird.gov.lk/en/publications/Acts_Land%20Tax/Land_Act_No._38(E).pdf 9) National Export Strategy - Logistics (2018 - 2022): https://www.srilankabusiness.com/pdf/nes/sri-lanka-logistics-4-3-web.pdf 10) Sustainable Development Council Website for SDG indicators: https://data.sdg.lk/access/2 11) Inland Revenue Department: Income Tax rate (2022): http://www.ird.gov.lk/en/publications/SitePages/Tax_Chart_2021.aspx?menuid=1404 12)Central Bank Annual Reports (2015-2019: https://www.cbsl.gov.lk/en/publications/economic-and-financial-reports/annual-reports