ColdStar International
ColdStar International is a Bristol, Tennessee-based manufacturer of medical-grade hot and cold therapy products with 50 years of operating history. The company produces instant cold/warm packs, gel packs, and transport gel products, serving hospitals, dental practices, sports medicine clinics, and Fortune 500 private-label customers under ISO 13485 and FDA certifications.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersBristol, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What ColdStar International does
ColdStar International is a Bristol, Tennessee-based, privately held manufacturer of medical-grade hot and cold therapy products operating from US-based facilities under BAA (Buy American Act) and TAA (Trade Agreements Act) compliance. Founded in 1974, the company has 50 years of continuous manufacturing history and produces millions of hot, cold, and gel therapy units annually. ColdStar is FDA registered (Establishment Registration No. 9027493), ISO 13485:2003 certified for medical device quality management since 2009 (valid through February 17, 2027), and is WBENC-certified as a women-owned business with SBA WOSB certification current through 2025.
The product portfolio centers on three core lines: single-use instant cold and instant warm packs activated by a proprietary squeeze-shake mechanism that requires no refrigeration; reusable, latex-free versatile gel packs that remain flexible when frozen and stay within a 34-40°F therapeutic window; and transport gel packs with proprietary 4-ply construction marketed for cold-chain logistics of vaccines, medical samples, food, and floral shipments. Sub-brands include Periwell (perineal cold/warm pads for post-partum and post-procedure use) and Cool-It (cold-only eye and face gel packs). Accessories include Co-Lastic, REB, EZe-Band, Contex, CEB, Econo-Wrap, and Shur-Band elastic bandages, hot/cold application covers, and coolers. Underlying differentiation rests on medical-grade, non-toxic, biodegradable gel formulations, FDA-registered manufacturing, and proprietary formulations designed for consistent therapeutic temperature delivery rather than disposable consumer-pack manufacturing alone.
ColdStar monetizes through three revenue streams: (1) one-time product sales of branded hot/cold therapy goods distributed via direct-to-consumer e-commerce (coldstarinternational.com with 1-800 phone ordering), direct B2B enterprise sales to hospitals, dental practices, sports medicine, physical therapy clinics, physician offices, long-term care, home health, schools, and burn units; (2) turn-key private-label manufacturing programs serving Fortune 500 brands with custom formulations, exclusive product lines, and EDI-integrated B2B ordering and inventory management; and (3) standalone Coldstar Contract Packaging services for third-party FDA-registered manufacturing and packaging. International distribution is conducted through an affiliated Swiss entity (Intercoldstar). Pricing across the catalog is unit-based, with per-unit ASPs ranging roughly from $0.50 (application covers) to $8.50 (insulated gel packs) at retail and proportional bulk case pricing for institutional buyers, with custom private-label pricing handled via direct sales contact.
ColdStar International firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ColdStar International
- Legal name
- ColdStar International
- Website
- https://coldstarinternational.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ColdStar International is a Bristol, Tennessee-based manufacturer of medical-grade hot and cold therapy products with 50 years of operating history. The company produces instant cold/warm packs, gel packs, and transport gel products, serving hospitals, dental practices, sports medicine clinics, and Fortune 500 private-label customers under ISO 13485 and FDA certifications.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ColdStar International industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Medical Therapy Products
- NAICS
- Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing (3391)
- SIC
- Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hot/Cold Therapy Services (Cryotherapy/Ice Baths) (HSALAFAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cold Chain & Temperature-Controlled Packaging (Insulated Shippers, Gel Packs) (IMALAIAG), Cold-Chain Packaging & Pack-Out Services (Gel Packs, Dry Ice, Insulated Shippers) (TLAIAGAK)
Keywords
Where ColdStar International is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bristol
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
ColdStar International business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hot/Cold Therapy Products: One-time product sales of instant cold packs, hot packs, gel packs, wraps, and covers for medical and consumer use. Products sold in single units and bulk case quantities.
- Private Label Manufacturing: Turn-key private label manufacturing programs for brand extension, serving Fortune 500 companies and other businesses wanting customized hot/cold therapy products under their own brand.
- Contract Packaging Services: Coldstar Contract Packaging services for third-party manufacturing and packaging needs, leveraging 50 years of production experience.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Co-Lastic Latex-Free Elastic Bandages - Single units |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Elastic Bandages - Case quantities |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Versatile Gel Packs - Single units |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Versatile Gel Packs - Case quantities |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Transport Gel Packs - Single units |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Transport Gel Packs - Case quantities |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Perineal Cold Packs - Case quantities |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Hot/Cold Application Covers |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
ColdStar International product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ColdStar International manufactures and sells hot and cold therapy products, including instant cold packs, instant warm packs, reusable versatile gel packs, transport gel packs, disposable perineal cold packs, elastic bandages, application covers, and coolers. The company offers turn-key private label manufacturing services that develop custom hot/cold therapy products from concept to market under customer brands, alongside contract packaging services for third-party manufacturing needs. Products are FDA registered, ISO 13485 certified, BAA/TAA compliant, and sold through B2B enterprise sales and direct-to-consumer e-commerce channels.
Product overview
ColdStar International is a US-based manufacturer of hot and cold therapy products, operating for over 50 years. The product portfolio centers on instant cold packs, instant warm packs, and reusable gel packs for medical and therapeutic applications. Supporting products include disposable perineal cold packs, transport gel packs for cold chain logistics, elastic bandages and wraps (Co-Lastic, REB, EZe-Band, Contex, CEB, Econo-Wrap, Shur-Band brands), application covers, and coolers. The company also offers private label manufacturing services with custom product development, EDI system compatibility for B2B ordering, and inventory management capabilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ColdStar: Primary brand for hot and cold therapy products including instant cold packs, instant warm packs, gel packs, and transport gel packs.
- Periwell
- Cool-It
Products and services
- Instant Cold Packs Single-use instant cold packs that activate with a squeeze to provide immediate cryotherapy without refrigeration. Available in various sizes for single units or case quantities, used by medical facilities, dental practices, sports medicine clinics, and consumers for injury recovery and swelling management.
- Instant Warm Packs Single-use instant hot packs that provide on-demand heat therapy without external heating. Available in single units or case quantities for medical facilities, clinics, and consumers needing portable heat therapy.
- Disposable Instant Perineal Cold Packs (Peripad) Disposable instant cold packs designed for perineal use after childbirth or medical procedures, featuring adhesive strip for secure placement and extra absorbent pad. Used by hospitals, birthing centers, and home care providers for post-partum and post-procedure recovery.
- Versatile Gel Packs Reusable hot/cold therapy gel packs that can be used in freezer or microwave. Available in various sizes (eye pack, standard, junior, throat/perineal) and insulation types (insulated and non-insulated) for medical facilities, clinics, sports medicine, and consumer use.
- Transport Gel Packs Hard freeze gel packs designed for transporting temperature-sensitive items including vaccines, medical supplies, food, and flowers. Features 4-ply construction and reusable non-toxic formula with extended freeze duration for pharmacies, medical facilities, restaurants, and mail order services.
- Hot or Cold Application Covers Protective fabric covers for hot and cold therapy packs, available in standard 6.5x9.75 inch size. Sold in various case quantities to protect skin during therapy application.
- Elastic Bandages and Wraps Latex-free elastic bandages including Co-Lastic, REB, EZe-Band, Econo-Wrap, Contex, and CEB brands. Available in various widths (2-6 inches) and grades (standard and premium) for securing hot/cold packs and supporting injured areas in clinical and consumer settings.
- Shur-Band Ice Wrap Latex-free knit ice wrap bandage with sewn pouch to hold hot/cold therapy packs. Features Velcro closure for quick application without pins or tape. Used by medical facilities, sports medicine, and burn units for specialized cold therapy application.
- Coolers Cooler products for transporting temperature-sensitive items alongside transport gel packs, used in cold chain logistics and medical supply transport.
- Private Label Manufacturing Services Turn-key private label manufacturing services for hot/cold therapy products. Includes custom product development from concept to market, exclusive product lines, customized packaging, and EDI-compatible B2B ordering. Serves Fortune 500 companies and major brands seeking to extend product lines under their own brand names.
Companies that use ColdStar International
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
ColdStar International technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature6 records
ColdStar International partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- IntercoldstarminorInternational arm of ColdStar operations referenced on company website, suggesting affiliated entity for international business.
- Coldstar Contract PackagingminorContract packaging services operation offering third-party manufacturing and packaging capabilities.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ColdStar International competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Performance Health (TheraPearl / Biofreeze): Manufacturer of consumer and clinical hot/cold therapy products including TheraPearl reusable gel packs and Biofreeze topical analgesics. Most directly comparable to ColdStar's core gel-pack and cold-therapy portfolio across retail and clinical channels.
- Breg: Specializes in orthopedic cold therapy devices (Polar Care), bracing, and recovery products sold to orthopedic clinics and sports medicine providers — overlapping directly with ColdStar's sports-medicine and post-op therapy customer base.
- Mueller Sports Medicine: Manufactures sports-medicine products including reusable cold/hot wraps, elastic bandages, and athletic recovery gear. Comparable product mix and D2C plus institutional distribution paralleling ColdStar's offerings.
- DJO Global (Chattanooga): Producer of clinical rehabilitation and physical-therapy equipment including cold therapy units sold to PT clinics and hospitals — a direct overlap with ColdStar's physical therapy and sports medicine segments.
- Ossur: Global orthopedics manufacturer with a strong line of post-operative cold therapy (Cryo/Cuff) and orthopedic bracing products; competes with ColdStar in hospital, dental, and PT channels.
- Sonoco ThermoSafe: Major provider of temperature-controlled packaging solutions (insulated shippers, gel packs, phase-change materials) for pharmaceutical cold chain — the most relevant direct peer for ColdStar's transport gel pack line.
Broad incumbents
- 3M Health Care: Diversified medical-products giant selling cold/hot therapy products (Nexcare, Ace bandages) as part of a much broader medical and consumer health portfolio across hospital, retail, and industrial channels.
- Cardinal Health: Large medical distributor and manufacturer supplying hospitals with thousands of medical consumables including cold therapy products — competes for institutional contracts that ColdStar's private-label business targets.
- Medline Industries: Largest privately-held medical-products manufacturer and distributor with a broad hot/cold therapy and bandage range, supplying hospitals and GPOs at scale beyond ColdStar's reach.
Emerging players
- Pelican BioThermal: Specialist in reusable and single-use temperature-controlled shippers for life sciences; comparable to ColdStar's transport gel packs in serving vaccine and biologic cold-chain logistics needs.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ColdStar International social profiles
Digital presenceColdStar International compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
ColdStar International financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ColdStar International leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
ColdStar International subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
ColdStar International funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ColdStar International M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ColdStar International
What does ColdStar International do?
ColdStar International manufactures and sells hot and cold therapy products, including instant cold packs, instant warm packs, reusable versatile gel packs, transport gel packs, disposable perineal cold packs, elastic bandages, application covers, and coolers. The company offers turn-key private label manufacturing services that develop custom hot/cold therapy products from concept to market under customer brands, alongside contract packaging services for third-party manufacturing needs. Products are FDA registered, ISO 13485 certified, BAA/TAA compliant, and sold through B2B enterprise sales and direct-to-consumer e-commerce channels.
Is ColdStar International a public or private company?
ColdStar International is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was ColdStar International founded?
ColdStar International was founded in 1974. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ColdStar International based?
ColdStar International is headquartered in Bristol, United States, in the North America region.
How does ColdStar International make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Hot/Cold Therapy Products are the primary driver. The others are private Label Manufacturing and contract Packaging Services.
Who are ColdStar International's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Performance Health (TheraPearl / Biofreeze), Breg, Mueller Sports Medicine, DJO Global (Chattanooga), Ossur and Sonoco ThermoSafe. Broad incumbents are 3M Health Care, Cardinal Health and Medline Industries. Pelican BioThermal is listed as an emerging player.
Does ColdStar International have an API?
No public API is recorded for ColdStar International.
What industry is ColdStar International in?
ColdStar International's product category is Medical Therapy Products. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSALAFAH, Hot/Cold Therapy Services (Cryotherapy/Ice Baths), with a secondary code of IMALAIAG, Cold Chain & Temperature-Controlled Packaging (Insulated Shippers, Gel Packs). Its NAICS code is 3391 and its SIC code is 3841.