Americold balances global reach with local relationships to serve seafood sector

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, international trade accounted for USD 186 billion (EUR 164 billion) of seafood's global market value in 2024, making efficient supply chains integral to the success of the seafood sector.

However, Americold Sales Manager Ron Viola said efficient supply chains depend not only on infrastructure and logistics, but also on the fishing communities that help sustain the industry.

“Long-term growth for the seafood industry depends on strong relationships across the entire value chain, from fishing communities and processors to distributors, retailers, and logistics providers,” Viola said. “Industry partnerships, workforce development, and local engagement all play an important role in supporting that growth.”

With strategically located facilities near major ports, production hubs and population centers, Americold helps seafood companies navigate increasingly complex supply chains while remaining closely connected to the communities and markets they serve.

After maintaining a decades-long relationship with the seafood community in Gloucester, Massachusetts, U.S.A., Americold partnered with a local nonprofit to create a massive mural of a mackerel on the side of the town’s Americold facility.

The mural, which stares out at one of the town’s most iconic spots – Flannagan Square – is meant to honor the fish that have shaped Gloucester, America’s oldest fishing port.

“As a company deeply invested in Gloucester’s seafood operations and future growth, we saw this mural as a meaningful way to celebrate the community’s maritime spirit and shared commitment to this vital industry,” Michael Willson, general manager at Gloucester for Americold told the Gloucester Daily Times in September 2025.

In addition to caring for its long-time community partners, Americold has also made an effort to give back to the locals living in the towns of its newer facilities.

At the opening of the company’s facility at Port Saint John in New Brunswick, Canada, Americold partnered with the North End Food Bank to pack and prepare 174 boxes of essential food and hygiene items to donate to the local community.

"Seafood businesses are deeply connected to the communities where they operate," Viola said. "Supporting those communities helps strengthen relationships, build trust, and better

position us to understand the needs of customers and stakeholders across the supply chain."

Exemplifying the company’s core value of “Giving Back,” Americold has also maintained a 10-year partnership with Feed the Children, an organization focused on expanding access to food and essential resources for families experiencing food insecurity across the U.S.

Through the partnership, Americold has contributed more than USD 2.4 million (EUR 2 million) to Feed the Children's programs, helping deliver more than 2.1 million pounds of food and essential resources to over 2.7 million individuals and 700,000 families nationwide.

“For the past 10 years, our associates have helped make a difference in communities across the country, and we’re proud to continue that work alongside Feed the Children,” Americold Chief Executive Officer Rob Chambers said in a press release. “As a critical link in the global food supply chain, Americold is uniquely positioned to provide essential infrastructure between food producers and the communities they serve. We believe businesses can be a force for good, and this partnership is one way we put that belief into action.”

To stay closely connected to evolving customer needs and industry trends, Americold actively participates in seafood trade shows, such as Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America (SENA/SPNA), North America’s largest seafood exposition, where Americold is a long-time exhibitor.

“Events such as SENA/SPNA provide valuable opportunities to engage directly with seafood producers, processors, distributors, and retailers,” Viola said. “Those conversations help us better understand emerging challenges and evolving customer needs so we can continue delivering solutions that support the seafood supply chain.”

Americold also actively supports the Northwest Fisheries Association (NWFA), an industry group representing approximately 180 member companies spanning the entire seafood supply chain. The NWFA, which primarily includes companies based in the U.S. states of Washington, Alaska, as well as Canada, hosts monthly dinners and special events for members to network and stay up to date on state and federal policy, fish standards and quality control, transportation, and tax and environmental issues.

“Participation in organizations like NWFA helps us stay connected to the issues shaping the seafood industry, from regulatory developments and transportation challenges to quality standards and market trends,” Viola said.

For a more holistic understanding of the industry and its pain points, Americold sends its employees to the National Fisheries Institute (NFI) Future Leaders program, a year-long professional development course for emerging seafood leaders.

The program offers educational experiences spanning multiple sectors, including processors, suppliers, buyers, and sellers, and tackles some of the seafood industry’s biggest challenges like sustainability, marketing, and industry advancement.

“NFI Future Leaders has been an extremely valuable program for us at Americold,” said Viola, who graduated from the program in 2021. “The program provides exposure to multiple segments of the seafood supply chain and helps build relationships across the industry, giving us greater insight into how we can support our seafood customers.”

Gaining insights into the industry and enhancing customer relationships through programs like NFI Future Leaders and trade shows like SENA has allowed Americold to adapt to the sector’s unique needs.

“The seafood industry is experiencing a transformational period, marked by consolidation, acquisitions, evolving customer requirements, and changing consumer expectations,” Viola said. “Maintaining close relationships across the industry helps us anticipate those changes and properly adapt our cold-storage solutions.”

Americold's global network gives customers the scale, infrastructure, and connectivity needed to support increasingly complex seafood supply chains, while its local presence provides insight into the regional markets, fishing communities, and customer relationships that drive the industry forward. At the same time, the company places deep value in local relationships, making it a priority to maintain top-tier, in-house customer service, Viola explained.

“The future of seafood will be shaped by strong partnerships, industry collaboration, and a shared commitment to continuous improvement,” Viola said. “Companies that invest in relationships, develop talent, and stay connected to the communities and customers they serve will be best positioned to succeed in a rapidly evolving industry.”