The leaders of Africa’s cold storage and refrigerated transportation industry will explore how smart technologies can transform food and pharmaceuticals logistics, at the Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) Africa Cold Chain Conference 2025 at The Premier Splendid Inn in Durban, South Africa on 20-21 August.
Temperature-controlled logistics professionals from across Africa will gather with wider food industry partners, cold chain technology experts and officials to discuss how to harness AI for resilience and sustainability in Africa’s third-party cold chain services of today and into the future.
GCCA is the voice of the temperature-controlled logistics industry around the world, and the annual GCCA Africa Cold Chain Conference is the continent’s definitive temperature-controlled logistics industry event. In 2025 it will be chaired by GCCA Africa Chairman and CEO of Digistics Renier du Preez. In a packed two-day programme addressing the priority opportunities and challenges for Africa’s third party cold chain industry, detailed insights will be provided by world-renowned experts including:
Mr Sean Hay – General Manager Fruit South Africa
Ms Michelle Constant – CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce in South Africa
Mr Adam Walker – General Manager Keyrus
Dr Edison Machedi – Border Management Authority
Mr Paul Frankish – African Infrastructure Investment Managers
Mr Andreas Rüsch – Trade Consultant
Mr Jayson Coomer – CFO of Chicoa Fish Farm Mozambique.

GCCA Director for Africa Paul Matthew says: “Unlocking cold chain growth is key to Africa’s economic prosperity, to securing new international trade opportunities, to advancing healthcare provision, and to building greater resilience in the food supply chain. Smart technologies using features such as AI and automation are already opening up new avenues in cold storage and refrigerated transportation, and as they develop they could transform how the cold chain operates. The GCCA Africa Cold Chain Conference in August is a fantastic chance to explore the path forwards.
“There is a terrific roster of expert speakers at the conference who will be sharing their knowledge and expertise on applying smart technologies as well as other priority topics such as the changing global landscape for trade of perishable goods; financing the cold chain; and achieving greater resilience and efficiency in energy. I look forward to welcoming Africa’s temperature-controlled logistics professionals to discuss our industry’s future while building relationships in our networking events and seeing the latest cold chain innovations in action at the conference’s exhibition.”
The GCCA Africa Cold Chain Conference will take place on 20-21 August 2025 at The Premier Splendid Inn Umhlanga, Durban, South Africa. Find out more about the conference program and register to attend at www.gcca.org/events/gcca-african-cold-chain-conference/
ABOUT GCCA
The Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) represents all major industries engaged in temperature-controlled warehousing, logistics and transportation. GCCA unites all partners to be innovative leaders in the movement of perishable products globally.