Multi-temp food distribution centre — Saudi Arabia
Major QSR & retail supplier consolidating five legacy warehouses into a single ASRS-equipped multi-temperature distribution centre.
Challenge
- Vision 2030 service-level targets across 1,800 SKUs.
- 45 °C ambient + Ramadan demand peaks.
- Energy cap from local utility post-2024 tariff reform.
ColdMatch solution
- CO₂ transcritical refrigeration with heat-recovery for offices.
- ASRS with frozen pick module and multi-temp pick-to-light.
- ColdMatch ran shortlist of 4 EPCs + 3 ASRS integrators.
How this project was delivered — planning to commissioning
Turnkey multi-temperature DC with retail-network integration. Total programme: 20 months, site selection to network go-live.
- 1
Planning & feasibility
Months 1–4- Network study: order profiles, store replenishment frequency and dock cycles.
- Zone sizing across ambient, chilled and frozen against forecast SKU growth.
- Land, power and cooling strategy assessed for high-ambient operation.
Milestone: Facility concept and capacity plan approved with expansion headroom.
- 2
Permitting & approvals
Months 4–8- Municipality building permit and industrial land-use approvals.
- Civil defence fire strategy for high-bay frozen storage.
- Food authority storage registration prepared in parallel with design.
Milestone: Building permit issued and food-authority pathway agreed.
- 3
Procurement & build-out
Months 8–16- Multi-temperature envelope, racking, dock levellers and airlocks installed.
- Refrigeration plant and controls integrated with the warehouse management system.
- Energy metering installed per zone for post-handover benchmarking.
Milestone: Practical completion with all temperature zones constructed.
- 4
Testing & validation
Months 16–19- Pull-down, door-cycle and dock-seal testing under peak summer ambient.
- Loaded temperature mapping per zone and cross-dock transition testing.
- WMS-to-refrigeration data integration verified end to end.
Milestone: Zones released for stock after mapping and integration sign-off.
- 5
Commissioning & handover
Months 19–20- Live pilot with a limited store cluster before full network cutover.
- Shift handbooks, alarm escalation and service contract activated.
- Energy and service-level baseline agreed for the first operating year.
Milestone: Distribution centre live across the retail network.
This project sits under the Develop a Distribution Center objective. Start from the objective hub to scope capacity, permitting and budget before engaging suppliers.