4 February 2025

Celebrating 5 Years of Constellation: Our Journey of Growth Across Europe

Constellation’s story began five years ago – in January 2020. Over the past five years, we have grown into a leading force in European cold storage, expanding our network through strategic acquisitions, infrastructure investment, and a strong commitment to innovation and sustainability – enhancing our service to deliver greater reliability, efficiency, and value for our customers.

But growth has also meant transformation. We have evolved from a portfolio of individual businesses into One Team, rolling out our shared vision and values across our network and integrating operations across the group to collaborate more seamlessly. This approach allows us to provide a consistently high-quality service across our pan-European network while maintaining deep local market expertise, enhancing our capabilities without adding any unnecessary complexity for our customers.

A key milestone in 2024 was Constellation’s new partnership with EQT as majority shareholder, further strengthening our position for future expansion. As we have grown, we have also invested in top talent and new capabilities, ensuring we are well-positioned for the next stage of our journey.

This anniversary is not just about looking back – it’s about looking forward to a future of continued excellent service for our customers. Here is a full breakdown of our growth journey across every country we operate in.

Belgium, The Netherlands and France

Belgium

Belgium has been a key pillar in Constellation’s expansion, with several strategic acquisitions and investments.

Constellation’s acquisition of Stockhabo in 2020 added 155,000 pallet positions to the network, cementing Constellation’s presence in the region. Further investment in Mouscron saw the development of ICE 2, a fully automated high-bay warehouse with 28,500 pallet places, underscoring Constellation’s commitment to innovation and sustainability.

In 2021, Constellation strengthened its foothold in Belgium with the acquisition of Frigologix, a strategic move that added 77,000 pallet positions to the network. Of these, 54,000 of which were across two sites acquired in Belgium. Additionally, a €2.1m upgrade at our Lommel site led to an automated storage system which allowed us to start storing local partner Farm Frites’ fresh food as well as their frozen produce.

France

The Frigologix acquisition added 23,000 French pallet positions to Constellation’s network. This expansion marked a significant milestone for Constellation, enhancing our capacity and reinforcing our presence in key markets across Europe. The Frigologix acquisition has also facilitated the introduction of cutting-edge cold storage solutions in France, allowing Constellation to meet the evolving needs of its customers in the region.

The Netherlands

Constellation’s expansion in the Netherlands has been marked by both acquisitions and capital investments. Constellation’s entry into the Dutch market began with the acquisition of Lintelo and the addition of its 60,000 pallet positions to our network in 2020.

The acquisition of Vrieshuis Lagemaat in 2021 added 54,000 pallet positions, followed by a second investment of 41,000 more. At the start of 2024, our Nijkerk facility underwent an 18,500-pallet expansion, complete with a solar array and sustainable construction that reinforced Constellation’s role as a leader in modern cold storage solutions within the Dutch market.

The Nordics

Norway

Norway was one of Constellation’s earliest areas of expansion, beginning with the acquisition of Glacio in 2020, which added 36,000 pallet positions. Additional growth came through a 14,000-pallet expansion in Rakkestad, making it Norway’s largest public cold store. More recently, a 13,000-pallet project in Tønsberg has introduced advanced value-added services like microwave tempering and plate freezing, reflecting Constellation’s dedication to innovation.

Sweden

Constellation entered the Swedish market in 2021 through the acquisition of Göteborgs Fryshus, adding 18,000 pallet positions. This move strengthened Constellation’s presence in the Nordic region and positioned it close to key transport hubs, enabling seamless distribution throughout Scandinavia.

Denmark

The acquisition of Agri-Norcold in Denmark in 2024 marked a significant milestone for Constellation, adding 270,000 pallet positions to our network across 10 new sites. This expansion not only increased storage capacity but also provided state-of-the-art freezing capabilities, making Denmark a crucial hub in Constellation’s network.

UK & Ireland

The United Kingdom

The UK has been a key growth market for Constellation, with major acquisitions bolstering capacity. The acquisition of ACS&T Logistics in Grimsby in 2022 added 97,000 pallet positions, followed by the purchase of HSH Cold Stores in 2020, contributing 81,000 more. With a 49,000 pallet expansion underway in Grimsby, these investments have strengthened Constellation’s footprint in the UK cold chain, ensuring robust logistics support for customers.

Ireland

Ireland became part of Constellation’s network with the acquisition of VF Coldstores in 2023 – adding 22,000 pallet positions to our network – and Colso Cold Storage that same year – adding 34,000 pallet positions. These sites provide crucial connections to Ireland’s major ports in Dublin and Cork, enhancing Constellation’s ability to serve the Irish and broader import and export markets efficiently.

At the end of 2024, Constellation acquired CGI Coldstores. This acquisition added 40,000 pallet positions to our network across two facilities in Dublin and Cork, as well as further advanced blast freezing and tempering capabilities, to the network.

Looking Ahead

Constellation’s journey over the past five years has been one of strategic growth and continuous investment. Beyond acquisitions, the company has focused on sustainability initiatives, such as installing over 6MW of solar power across the UK, Norway, and Belgium. Energy efficiency projects in facilities like Lichtenvoorde in the Netherlands and Val-de-Meuse in France have reduced consumption and improved operational resilience.

As Constellation moves forward, we remain committed to providing excellent service to customers, and maintaining our core values. By enhancing existing sites, integrating advanced technologies, and maintaining a focus on sustainability, Constellation is poised to remain Europe’s leading cold logistics provider for years to come.