Seafrigo Australia, operating as Mode Logistics, has opened a 10,000-square-meter cold chain facility at Melbourne Airport—quadrupling its previous space and expanding capacity to meet rising demand for food exports and airfreight logistics.

Seafrigo said this expansion allows the company to handle preload units more efficiently, ensuring smoother processing and extended loading windows for both day and night operations.

The facility has been specifically designed to meet the growing demands of Seafrigo's airfreight business. It features a full range of temperature-controlled zones, including frozen storage (-16°C to -20°C), chilled storage (0°C to 4°C), and ambient temperature areas.

 [Source: Seafrigo]
 

Seafrigo noted that these capabilities are essential for handling the wide array of sensitive exports Seafrigo specializes in, such as meat, fish (fresh and frozen), dairy products, horticultural goods, and various supermarket items.

"We're no longer a step behind the competition - we're a step ahead," said Jason Farrugia, CEO of Mode Logistics. "The additional space gives us the ability to preload units overnight and again in the morning, helping us meet critical cut-off times and enhance our service reliability."

"Until now, we had to turn down business because we simply didn't have the space to accommodate more. With this new facility, we're not only meeting current demand but setting the stage for expansion into new markets," he added.

 [Source: Seafrigo]

The new Melbourne facility is also equipped with biosecurity-compliant infrastructure, including fumigation chambers and a fully enclosed shutter system on the docks, ideal for safeguarding temperature-sensitive shipments. These measures align with Australia's strict biodiversity and biosecurity laws - among the most stringent in the world.

Located within a major 400-hectare logistics development at Melbourne Airport, the facility offers direct access to Victoria's road network, providing seamless connectivity across the eastern seaboard and beyond.

As one of Australia's top export service providers, Seafrigo said it is positioned to scale both its inbound and outbound services - currently focused 90% on export - and plans to introduce enhanced quality inspection capabilities and upgraded warehouse management systems later this year.

"Our investment in this new site underscores our commitment to operational excellence, customer satisfaction, and importantly, global reach. It will open up more opportunities in other international locations especially those in the Middle East and Asia which we serve from here," Eric Barbé, president and founder of Seafrigo.