All thawed out
Making an investment in health care solutions is the new trend of 2025. FedEx, UPS and DHL Group have all announced significant investments in health care. FedEx is anticipating nearly $400 million in new annualized health care revenue. UPS plans to double revenue in health care logistics to $20 billion through organic growth and acquisitions by 2026.
Most recently announced is the DHL investment of $2.2 billion to upgrade its logistics capabilities and footprint in the life sciences and health care sector. Half of capital expenditures will be allocated to the Americas, with the balance split between Asia-Pacific and the Europe, Middle East and Africa region.
According to the news release, “A significant part of the investment will be allocated to establishing new cross-divisional [Good Distribution Practices]-certified Pharma Hubs for multi-temperature shipment lanes, expanding cold chain capacity in existing facilities, commissioning new temperature-controlled vehicles, and enhancing both passive and active packaging solutions to ensure sustainable delivery.”
The health care supply chain was valued at $3.43 billion in 2024. The market is projected to grow from $3.93 billion in 2025 to $9.53 billion by 2032, at a compound annual growth rate of 13.5% during the forecast period. North America dominated the health care supply chain management market with a market share of 48.83% in 2024.
With health care getting more tailored to patients’ needs, it’s poised to grow significantly and with more complex supply chain needs, making now the perfect time for investment.
Oscar de Bok, CEO of DHL Supply Chain, said in a news release. “We’re building high-quality, integrated logistics solutions that are as innovative and reliable as the products our customers create – ensuring that patients everywhere receive the right treatment, at the right time, with complete confidence.”
Temperature checks
There’s a new acquisition on the cold storage scene. Vertical Cold Storage is acquiring Canton, Michigan-based Arctic Logistics. The acquisition is the fifth new Vertical Cold facility in the past year, making it the sixth-largest cold storage company in North America. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The acquisition will give Vertical 140,000 square feet, 19 dock doors and over 20,000 pallet positions. The warehouse is U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection-certified and features import and export services for trade with Canada, located minutes away.
“This acquisition strengthens our ability to support customers engaged in cross-border trade and adds a critical location to our growing national footprint,” said Jim Henderson, chief commercial officer at Vertical Cold Storage, in a news release. “With evolving complexities in U.S.-Canada trade, we’re committed to being a reliable cold chain partner for producers and buyers on both sides of the border.”
Food and drug
Just in time for summer, Trolli Gummi candy has made the jump to the freezer aisle with its new Gummi Pop. The ice pop is having its moment on TikTok. The new treat combines a soft, chewy gummy texture with an ice pop. It sounds texturally confusing but interesting.
No doubt thanks to social media, Trolli Gummi Pop now holds both the No. 1 and 2 top-selling new SKUs in the frozen hand-held treats segment, cementing its status as one of the most disruptive forces in the category. Personally, I didn’t know that ice pops and other frozen treats could be disrupted, but the more you know …
Isabella Chia, chief marketing officer at Wells Enterprises, said in a news release: “Our team worked tirelessly to perfect that signature soft, gummi Trolli texture in a frozen treat. Trolli Gummi Pops represent our commitment to delivering unexpected sensory experiences that surprise and delight consumers looking for something beyond traditional frozen treats.”
Cold chain lanes
This week’s market under a microscope heads south to Florida, Jacksonville to be precise. Reefer outbound tender volumes have fallen 20.35% week over week. Reefer outbound tender rejections are on the rise, hitting 12.09% after falling to 9.06% at the beginning of the week. That’s a 376-basis-point change from April 3-11.
With rejections nearing 15%, reefer spot rates in Jacksonville are elevated. Shippers and brokers can expect lower contract carrier compliance as carriers move to the spot market in an attempt to get more favorable rates. Temperature-controlled imports are a large chunk of volumes in Jacksonville, which for the next 90 days should remain constant as tariffs are temporarily halted.
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Wanna chat in the cooler? Shoot me an email with comments, questions or story ideas at moconnell@freightwaves.com.
See you on the internet.
Mary
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