KPS Global on MarketScale | Cold Storage Expert Content

Insulated panel systems for every cold storage application.

KPS Global manufactures insulated panel systems for convenience stores, grocery retailers, foodservice operators, and industrial enclosures. Their MarketScale channel gives procurement and facilities professionals access to product expertise, installation guidance, and cold chain best practices. KPS Global is the leading domestic supplier of walk-in cooler and freezer systems.

57 episodes

Channel Brief·KPS Global · 57 episodes

Updated Oct 1, 2024

Cold chain infrastructure powers retail, healthcare, and food innovation

KPS Global's 75-year legacy in custom insulated enclosures anchors the channel's argument that controlled-environment solutions are strategic, not commodity. Episodes ground this in real customer challenges, manufacturing scale, and emerging market shifts.

KPS Global argues that custom controlled-environment solutions are competitive advantage, not cost centers. The channel supports this through recurring focus on how KPS's 750,000 square feet of manufacturing space across five U.S. states, state-of-the-art automation, and long-standing supplier relationships deliver on-time, high-quality solutions that solve specific vertical pain points, from vaccine distribution to e-commerce grocery fulfillment to floral retail.

Drawn from Redefining Cold Chain Solutions with KPS Globa… and 2 more →

“Automation is essential to grocery store's future. Automation isn't a bad thing.”
Joe McMenamin, business development for grocery fulfillment at KPS Global

By the numbers

750,000 sq ft

manufacturing footprint across five U.S. states

3.4%

online grocery market share in 2019

$36B

online grocery sales in 2019

45.6M

U.S. online grocery shoppers in June 2020, up 6% monthly

What the channel argues

DataKPS Global operates over 750,000 sq ft of state-of-the-art manufacturing across five U.S. states.→

DataOnline grocery sales reached nearly $36 billion in 2019 alone, driving demand for custom cold storage.→

DataViessmann Generations Group, a 107-year-old family company founded in 1917, acquired KPS Global to expand global reach.→

InsightKPS has designed near 180-degree floral coolers and supported vaccine storage, blood banks, clean rooms, and dry rooms.→

DataA June 2020 survey found 45.6 million U.S. consumers were online grocery shoppers, a 6% monthly increase.→

DataKPS holds over 700 SKUs of aftermarket parts organized by category for walk-in coolers and freezers.→

What you'll learn

•Cold storage infrastructure is mission-critical to vaccine distribution, food retail, and e-commerce fulfillment, not just commodity refrigeration.

•Online grocery surged from 3.4% of retail in 2019 to substantial scale by 2020, requiring retailers to own data and build custom logistics infrastructure.

•Thermodynamic principles in freezer management directly impact operating costs; humidity, surface temperature, and dew point management are engineering discipline, not afterthought.

•Vertical farming and dark kitchens represent emerging channels requiring specialized cold storage solutions, not traditional retail formats.

•Supply chain resilience and long-standing supplier relationships are competitive advantages in manufacturing consistency and on-time delivery.

What to do about it

→Evaluate whether your cold storage solution is designed to your specific humidity, temperature, and throughput requirements, not retrofitted to generic equipment.

→If you operate e-commerce grocery or micro fulfillment, audit your data ownership and infrastructure control; third-party platforms limit profitability.

→Assess your walk-in equipment's thermodynamic efficiency and preventive maintenance practices to reduce energy and repair costs over time.

Who and what shows up

Mike Eakins

CEO at KPS Global

Led company narrative on cold chain innovation, vaccine storage scaling, and sustainable product development; quoted on Edison Award recognition for Arctic Express Pack gel freezer system.

Joe McMenamin

Director of eCommerce / E-commerce Director at KPS Global

Consistently addressed e-commerce grocery disruption, micro fulfillment centers, and automation's role in retail fulfillment; cited 2019 online grocery sales figure of $36 billion.

James Costanza

Technical Fellow at KPS Global

Contributed patents and innovations; led discussion on thermodynamic principles in freezer efficiency and condensation diagnosis; named as mentor during succession planning.

Lun Tsuei

Director of Research and Development at KPS Global

Joined to lead R&D process on lean manufacturing and sustainable products, with Ph.D. from UC Berkeley and MBA from University of Texas.

Viessmann Generations Group

Acquiring company, family-owned investment firm

107-year-old purpose-driven family company founded in 1917 acquired KPS Global in October 2024 to enhance service capability and strategic global reach.

Questions this channel answers

Why does condensation and frost form in walk-in coolers and freezers?

Condensation occurs when surface temperature meets humidity levels that create a dew point; opening doors and faulty panel seals allow warmer, humid air to infiltrate cold spaces. Checking humidity levels and surface temperature helps diagnose the dew point.

Cooler News: Fighting Back Against Condensation in Walk-… →

How do custom insulated panel solutions differ from standard walk-in equipment?

KPS Global builds each walk-in cooler or freezer to exact customer specifications, enabling applications from 180-degree floral coolers to vaccine storage and clean rooms. This customization, paired with automation and supplier relationships, ensures consistency and on-time delivery.

Beyond Cold Storage: KPS Global’s Versatility in Control… →

What supply chain challenges did cold storage manufacturers face during COVID-19?

KPS Global had to think quickly and adjust procurement across its global supply chain, managing completed items from suppliers while maintaining delivery integrity. The company stayed ahead by anticipating disruptions early.

Cooler News: Managing the Supply Chain During the Pandem… →

How is e-commerce reshaping grocery cold storage needs?

E-commerce grocery drove demand for micro fulfillment centers and curbside pickup infrastructure, requiring retailers to own customer data and build custom cold storage logistics. Online grocery sales were 3.4% of the market in 2019 but grew substantially by 2020.

KPS Global’s Retail Cold Storage Solutions →

What makes robotics and automation critical in modern grocery fulfillment?

Automation processes tasks more efficiently than human labor and is essential to grocery stores' future competitiveness. It enables micro fulfillment centers to scale order fulfillment without proportional labor cost increases.

Cooler News: The State of Robotics in Grocery Markets →

Best place to start

Redefining Cold Chain Solutions with KPS Global’s Unmatched ScaleIntroduces KPS's 70-year legacy, 750,000 sq ft footprint, and breadth of applications from vaccine distribution to food retail in one narrative.

KPS Global’s Retail Cold Storage SolutionsShows how e-commerce and curbside pickup are driving demand for custom cold storage; features multiple KPS leaders on turnkey approach.

Topics:Custom walk-in coolers and freezersInsulated panel systemsE-commerce grocery fulfillmentVaccine storage and cold chainMicro fulfillment centers

Themes:Controlled environments as strategic infrastructureCustomization and scale as competitive moatE-commerce and emerging channels as drivers of cold chain demand

Industry context

Temperature-controlled packaging solutions market is projected to grow from USD 20.06 billion in 2026 to USD 42.65 billion by a later year, reflecting expanding demand across cold chain logistics and storage infrastructure.

Temperature Controlled Packaging Solutions Market Size and Growth Projections (precedenceresearch.com) ↗