Collapsible Cooler
Collapsible Cooler Company, founded in 2006 and based in Hopkins, Minnesota, manufactures flat-pack EPS foam shipping coolers and accessories (gel packs, ice bricks, thermal bags) for cold-chain distribution by small and mid-market U.S. businesses shipping meat, seafood, dairy, produce, pharma, and other temperature-sensitive goods.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersHopkins, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Collapsible Cooler does
Collapsible Cooler Company, founded in 2006 and headquartered in Hopkins, Minnesota, manufactures collapsible Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam shipping coolers used for cold-chain distribution of temperature-sensitive goods. The company serves primarily small and mid-market U.S. businesses shipping frozen and raw meat, seafood, dairy, fresh produce, pharmaceuticals, animal products, and desserts/confections. Its core technology is a flat-pack EPS foam cooler that arrives, stores, and ships flat and unfolds in seconds for use, with three standard wall thicknesses (1-inch, 1.5-inch, 2-inch) and cut-to-order custom sizing, each shipping with an integrated poly-liner bag inside a 200lb corrugated shipping box. Complementary accessories include non-toxic gel packs, vacuum-sealed ice bricks, custom-cut space reducers, and ThermaLast thermal bags that extend shipping windows by 25% or more. The company also resells traditional pre-formed EPS coolers via an Integritemp distribution partnership, with over 400 size/thickness combinations available.
The business operates a direct, sales-led go-to-market model with phone and email outreach, a website-driven sample and inquiry process, and trade show participation (e.g., the Annual Pork Congress). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; minimum orders are as low as one carton for standard sizes and a few dozen units for custom orders, with custom-printed shippers requiring a 250-unit minimum to be received within twelve months. Shipping is national via parcel, pallet, or truckload, with local pickup available in the Minneapolis area. The company is privately held by two owners (Aaron Molenaar, President; Eddie McDonald, Director of Sales and Marketing), has between 1 and 10 employees, has no external funding rounds on record, and expanded its manufacturing and warehouse footprint by 50% in mid-2023 to support scaling.
Collapsible Cooler firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Collapsible Cooler
- Legal name
- Collapsible Cooler Company
- Website
- https://collapsiblecooler.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Collapsible Cooler Company, founded in 2006 and based in Hopkins, Minnesota, manufactures flat-pack EPS foam shipping coolers and accessories (gel packs, ice bricks, thermal bags) for cold-chain distribution by small and mid-market U.S. businesses shipping meat, seafood, dairy, produce, pharma, and other temperature-sensitive goods.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Collapsible Cooler industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Insulated Shipping Packaging
- NAICS
- Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing (32614)
- SIC
- Plastics Foam Products (3086)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cold Chain & Temperature-Controlled Packaging (Insulated Shippers, Gel Packs) (IMALAIAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Foam Protective Packaging (EPS/EPE/EPP, PU, Molded Foam) (IMALAFAA)
Keywords
Where Collapsible Cooler is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Hopkins
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Collapsible Cooler business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Collapsible Cooler Sales: Sale of EPS foam collapsible coolers in standard sizes (1", 1.5", 2" wall thickness) and custom dimensions. Coolers include integrated poly liner bags and 200lb corrugated shipping boxes. Minimum order is 1 carton.
- Gel Packs and Ice Bricks: Non-toxic, reusable refrigerant gel packs (6-64oz sizes) and vacuum-sealed ice bricks sold by the case. Can be added to palletized cooler orders without additional shipping costs.
- ThermaLast Thermal Bags: Thermal bags that extend shipping window by 25%+ over EPS alone. Sold by the case (250 per case for most sizes) or individually with cooler orders.
- Custom Cooler Solutions: Custom-sized and custom-printed coolers with no mold fees or large minimum quantities. Custom cut space reducers and foam inserts. Low minimums starting at a few dozen units.
- Formed Cooler Resale: As a local Integritemp distributor, reselling pre-formed EPS shipping coolers. Drop-shipped direct to customers. Custom sizing available.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Coolers - Single carton minimum |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Custom Coolers - No mold fees, low minimums |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | ThermaLast Bags - Sold by case |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Gel Packs/Ice Bricks - Case quantities |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Collapsible Cooler product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Collapsible Cooler manufactures and sells collapsible insulated EPS foam shipping containers used for cold-chain distribution of perishable and temperature-sensitive goods. Its catalog covers 1-inch, 1.5-inch, and 2-inch wall coolers, custom-cut EPS solutions, and complementary items such as gel packs, ice bricks, ThermaLast insulated bags, space reducers, and resold formed EPS coolers. The flagship differentiator is a wall design that folds flat when empty, reducing storage and return-shipping space.
Product overview
Collapsible Cooler is a manufacturer of collapsible EPS foam shipping coolers for cold chain distribution. The product portfolio centers on fold-flat foam coolers available in three wall thicknesses (1", 1.5", and 2") designed to save 50-80% in storage and shipping space. Products arrive and store flat, then unfold in seconds for packing. The offering includes standard stock sizes plus custom cut-to-order solutions without mold fees. Complementary accessories include gel packs, ice bricks, and ThermaLast thermal bags that extend shipping windows. The company also distributes traditional formed EPS coolers through an Integritemp partnership for customers with existing formed cooler needs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- 1" Wall Collapsible Cooler A collapsible insulated EPS foam shipping cooler with 1-inch wall thickness, designed for cold-chain shipment of perishable goods. Sold to businesses such as farms, butcher shops, meat processors, distributors, and medical shippers that need a reusable, space-saving alternative to traditional rigid coolers.
- 1.5" Wall Collapsible Cooler A collapsible insulated EPS foam shipping cooler with 1.5-inch wall thickness, offering longer temperature hold than the 1-inch model. Sold to food producers, distributors, and medical/pharma shippers needing reusable insulated packaging that folds flat when empty.
- 2" Wall Collapsible Cooler A collapsible insulated EPS foam shipping cooler with 2-inch wall thickness, providing the longest temperature hold and highest insulation performance in the standard line. Sold to businesses shipping highly perishable or temperature-sensitive payloads.
- Custom EPS Coolers Custom-cut collapsible EPS foam coolers manufactured to customer-specified dimensions and configurations. Targets businesses with non-standard payload sizes or specialized cold-chain requirements that cannot be met by stock SKUs.
- Gel Packs Reusable gel-based coolant packs sold alongside Collapsible Cooler shippers to maintain payload temperature during transit. Sold to the same food, distribution, and medical/pharma customers using Collapsible Cooler insulated containers.
- Ice Bricks Reusable ice brick coolant packs sold as a complementary temperature-control accessory for use inside Collapsible Cooler insulated shippers. Sold to food producers, distributors, and medical/pharma shippers.
- ThermaLast Bags Insulated ThermaLast bags offered as a complementary temperature-controlled packaging product alongside Collapsible Cooler shippers, for customers needing a flexible-bag option for perishable or temperature-sensitive goods.
- Space Reducers EPS foam inserts used inside collapsible coolers to reduce unused internal volume, ensuring smaller payloads remain properly surrounded by insulation for consistent cold-chain performance. Sold as a complementary accessory to standard and custom coolers.
- Formed EPS Shipping Coolers (resold) Rigid formed EPS (styrofoam) shipping coolers manufactured by other producers and resold by Collapsible Cooler as a complementary product. Provides customers who need a single-use traditional shipper with a one-stop source alongside Collapsible Cooler's own collapsible line.
Quantifiable outcome
- 50-80% storage space reduction compared to formed coolers
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Collapsible Cooler
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Collapsible Cooler technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Collapsible Cooler partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- IntegritempminorCollapsible Cooler acts as a local Integritemp distributor, reselling pre-formed EPS shipping coolers. This allows them to offer a full range of cold chain solutions including both their proprietary collapsible coolers and traditional formed coolers. All formed cooler orders are drop-shipped direct to customers.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Collapsible Cooler competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Insulated Products Corporation: Manufacturer of EPS insulated shipping containers and gel packs for food, seafood, and pharma cold chain. Comparable product set and customer overlap with Collapsible Cooler.
- ABCO Cold Chain Solutions (now part of BioLife Solutions): Designer of pre-qualified thermal shipping containers and gel packs for life sciences and pharma cold chain. Comparable insulated-shipper manufacturer serving adjacent pharmaceutical verticals.
- Softbox Systems: UK-based designer and manufacturer of temperature-controlled insulated shipping systems including EPS and PCM parcel shippers. Comparable insulated-shipper manufacturer with pharma-heavy customer base.
- Intelsius (by DGP Pharma): Manufacturer of temperature-controlled packaging including pre-qualified insulated shippers, gel packs, and cold-chain kits. Direct competitor in the insulated shipping container category, particularly for life sciences.
- Polar Tech Industries: Manufacturer of insulated shipping containers, gel packs, and cold-chain packaging products. Comparable offering across EPS insulated shippers, gel packs, and thermal liners for food and pharmaceutical shipping.
- Cold Chain Technologies: Provider of thermal packaging solutions including EPS and PUR insulated shippers, gel packs, and PCM solutions for pharma and food. Closest mid-market direct peer with overlapping product set (insulated shippers + gel packs) and similar customer verticals.
- Pelican BioThermal: Manufacturer of reusable and single-use insulated shippers (including Credo series) serving pharma, biotech, and clinical trial logistics. Directly comparable product category — insulated parcel shippers for cold chain — though focused on higher-value reusable formats.
- Cryopak: Manufacturer of cold chain packaging including insulated EPS shippers, gel packs, and temperature monitors. Directly comparable product portfolio targeting food, pharma, and life-science shipping customers.
Broad incumbents
- Sonoco ThermoSafe: A division of Sonoco Products and one of the largest global providers of temperature-controlled packaging, including EPS, PUR, and PCM parcel shippers. Directly comparable to Collapsible Cooler in insulated shipping containers but operates at much larger scale across pharma and life sciences.
Emerging players
- TemperPack: Designer of sustainable insulated shipping solutions (e.g., ClimaCell) replacing EPS foam for cold chain. Comparable end-market but differentiated by plant-based, recyclable insulation technology.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Collapsible Cooler social profiles
Digital presenceCollapsible Cooler financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Collapsible Cooler leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Collapsible Cooler funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Collapsible Cooler 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 Collapsible Cooler
What does Collapsible Cooler do?
Collapsible Cooler manufactures and sells collapsible insulated EPS foam shipping containers used for cold-chain distribution of perishable and temperature-sensitive goods. Its catalog covers 1-inch, 1.5-inch, and 2-inch wall coolers, custom-cut EPS solutions, and complementary items such as gel packs, ice bricks, ThermaLast insulated bags, space reducers, and resold formed EPS coolers. The flagship differentiator is a wall design that folds flat when empty, reducing storage and return-shipping space.
Is Collapsible Cooler a public or private company?
Collapsible Cooler is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Collapsible Cooler founded?
Collapsible Cooler was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Collapsible Cooler based?
Collapsible Cooler is headquartered in Hopkins, United States, in the North America region.
How does Collapsible Cooler make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Collapsible Cooler Sales are the primary driver. The others are gel Packs and Ice Bricks, thermaLast Thermal Bags, custom Cooler Solutions and formed Cooler Resale.
Who are Collapsible Cooler's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Insulated Products Corporation, ABCO Cold Chain Solutions (now part of BioLife Solutions), Softbox Systems, Intelsius (by DGP Pharma), Polar Tech Industries, Cold Chain Technologies, Pelican BioThermal and Cryopak. Sonoco ThermoSafe is listed as a broad incumbent. TemperPack is listed as an emerging player.
Does Collapsible Cooler have an API?
No public API is recorded for Collapsible Cooler.
What industry is Collapsible Cooler in?
Collapsible Cooler's product category is Insulated Shipping Packaging. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMALAIAG, Cold Chain & Temperature-Controlled Packaging (Insulated Shippers, Gel Packs), with a secondary code of IMALAFAA, Foam Protective Packaging (EPS/EPE/EPP, PU, Molded Foam). Its NAICS code is 32614 and its SIC code is 3086.