Cool Chain Association
Cool Chain Association is a non-profit, Luxembourg-based industry association that convenes airlines, airports, freight forwarders, pharma logistics firms, and technology vendors to reduce food loss and improve pharmaceutical cold chain integrity through events, technical committees, and data-sharing pilots.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersSchrassig, Luxembourg
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Cool Chain Association does
Cool Chain Association (CCA) is a non-profit industry association founded in 2002 and registered in Schrassig, Luxembourg. It operates as a neutral convener for the temperature-sensitive supply chain, bringing together airlines, cargo handlers, airports, freight forwarders, pharmaceutical logistics providers, technology vendors, and academic institutions to reduce food loss and waste in perishables and to improve integrity in the pharmaceutical cold chain. Its primary segments are the perishables industry (fruits, vegetables, flowers) and the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry, with secondary segments in air cargo and the academic/research community.
CCA's core offerings are a community and knowledge platform rather than a unified software product. Services include a global events programme (perishables and pharma conferences plus an AGM), a Technical Committee (launched July 2021) and a Risk Management Committee (formed February 2022), a Resource Centre of white papers and case studies, a searchable Membership Directory, and structured initiatives such as the LAX data-sharing pilots using NFC/electronic loggers, the Degree-Hours KPI metric, and the COVID-19 Distribution Change Management Matrix. Formal MoUs with IATA (2020), Cargo iQ (2020), PPECB (2022), and Pharma.Aero (2023) anchor it within adjacent standards and life-science logistics bodies.
CCA's revenue model is membership-dues driven (Full, Associate, Honorary, Studious Partner tiers billed annually) supplemented by event registration fees, with discounted rates for members. Membership acquisition is community-led via industry events, networking, and partnerships. The association operates with 11-50 employees from a single Luxembourg headquarters, governs itself through a Board of Directors and Secretary General, and discloses no revenue or funding.
Cool Chain Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cool Chain Association
- Legal name
- Cool Chain Association
- Website
- https://coolchain.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cool Chain Association is a non-profit, Luxembourg-based industry association that convenes airlines, airports, freight forwarders, pharma logistics firms, and technology vendors to reduce food loss and improve pharmaceutical cold chain integrity through events, technical committees, and data-sharing pilots.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cool Chain Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Logistics Industry Association
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cold Chain Monitoring, Compliance & Serialization Services (IoT, QA, audits) (TLAIAIAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Food & Beverage Cold Chain Logistics (Fresh, Chilled, Frozen) (TLAIAIAE), Clinical Trials & Investigational Product (IP) Cold Chain Logistics (TLAIAIAC), Cold Chain Monitoring, Data Logging & Chain-of-Custody Services (TLACAMAL)
Keywords
Where Cool Chain Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Schrassig
- HQ country
- Luxembourg
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cool Chain Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Full membership is granted to companies actively and directly taking part in transportation of perishables and temperature-sensitive products via air, road, rail or sea. Associate membership for persons or companies interested in the industry. Honorary membership for outstanding individuals. Studious Partner membership for academic community including universities and research institutes.
- Event Registration Fees: Regular global events for both perishables and pharma communities with discounted rates for members. Events include conferences, AGMs, and working group meetings.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Full Membership - For companies actively involved in temperature-sensitive product transportation |
| Subscription | Annual | Associate Membership - For companies or individuals with interest but not directly involved in temperature-sensitive supply chain |
| Subscription | Annual | Honorary Membership - For outstanding individuals providing valuable contribution to the industry |
| Subscription | Annual | Studious Partner Membership - For academic and research institutions |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Cool Chain Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cool Chain Association is a non-profit industry association providing a collaborative community platform for temperature-sensitive supply chain professionals. It offers regular global events (perishables and pharma conferences), a Technical Committee programme that runs collaborative projects, a Resource Centre with white papers and best practices, a searchable Membership Directory, and the Cool Chain Quality Index (CCQI). These services are aimed at reducing food loss in perishables and improving integrity in pharmaceutical logistics.
Product overview
The Cool Chain Association (CCA) is a non-profit industry association providing a collaborative community platform for temperature-sensitive supply chain professionals. Rather than a unified software product, the CCA offers a portfolio of services including global events (Perishables and Pharma conferences), a Technical Committee programme for driving research and quality projects, a Resource Centre for white papers and best practices, and a searchable Membership Directory. These services are designed to facilitate collaboration, education, and innovation among members to reduce food loss and improve the pharmaceutical supply chain.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Events Programme Regular global events for both perishables and pharma communities, bringing together thought leaders and like-minded companies to share knowledge, present case studies, and network to encourage collaboration. Open to members at discounted rates and to non-members at full rates.
- Technical Committee Programme Project-based programme that assists, analyses, studies, and helps manage projects to progress CCA's mission to reduce waste and loss and improve the quality, efficiency, and value of the cool supply chain. Members volunteer as Project Coordinators to drive specific initiatives.
- Risk Management Committee Working group formed under the Technical Committee programme to develop digital risk management strategies for more efficient and smarter pharma and perishable supply chains. Serves associations members interested in collaborative risk assessment.
- Resource Centre (Knowledge Sharing) Publishes white papers, encourages case studies, and drives best practice initiatives to support a better temperature-controlled supply chain. Includes downloadable knowledge resources, best practice videos, and case studies accessible to members and the broader community.
- Membership Directory Online searchable database of CCA members, combined with regular newsletters and news updates, that keeps members in touch and builds a collaborative business environment. Free listing is included with membership.
- Cool Chain Quality Index (CCQI) A quality index initiative for the temperature-sensitive supply chain referenced as part of CCA's offerings on their About page, designed to benchmark cool chain quality performance for members.
- LAX Initiative Data Sharing Platform Collaborative data sharing initiative that tracks and measures perishable shipments across global trade lanes (Los Angeles-Amsterdam, Latin America-Middle East, Mexico-Kuwait, South Africa-UK) using NFC/electronic logging devices attached to pallets and containers, with the Degree-Hours KPI metric used to assess quality.
- COVID-19 Distribution Change Management Matrix Methodological framework supporting airports to prepare logistics for COVID-19 vaccine distribution, covering temperature requirements, packaging, forecast, quantity, timeframe, facilities, warehouse and ramp operations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Launched COVID-19 Distribution Change Management Matrix to support airports prepare for vaccine logistics
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Cool Chain Association
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles10 records
Cool Chain Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Cool Chain Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Pharma.AerocorePharma.Aero, a cross-industry collaboration platform for life science logistics, signed MoU with CCA to harmonize pharmaceutical and perishable cold chain processes. The partnership outlines shared commitment to foster collaboration and enhance transparency between life science and perishable cold chain communities.
- Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB)coreMoU signed for collaboration on research initiatives about airfreight of perishables from South Africa. PPECB provides control of perishable products for export from South Africa and has in-house research department analyzing quality and food safety standards. Primary aim is to identify gaps in airfreight value chain and discuss mitigation measures.
- International Air Transport Association (IATA)coreCCA and IATA signed MOU to drive improvements in quality, efficiency, and sustainability of temperature-controlled supply chain. Collaboration includes sharing feedback, experiences, knowledge, and best practice. Joint work programs planned including task forces and round tables for initiatives such as vaccine transport. Representatives attend each other's industry meetings as observers.
- Cargo iQmajorCCA joined Cargo iQ's Care Mapping Pilot Program exploring care mapping in the pharma cool chain. CCA members participate in Advisory Board supporting development of tools and standards for planning, control, and provider evaluation. Program initially focuses on pharmaceuticals with expansion to other special care services.
- Every Infant MattersminorCCA's chosen charity serving poverty-stricken communities in India, Nigeria, and Dominican Republic with last mile healthcare solutions. Charity representative speaks at CCA events and conference donations support the organization.
- Too Good To GominorPhilippe Schuler from Too Good To Go (food waste app) analyzed temperature data from CCA pilot and presented findings at CCA Perishables Conference. Organization provides expertise in food loss and waste reduction.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cool Chain Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB): South African statutory body certifying perishable produce exports; CCA signed an MoU with PPECB in September 2022. Comparable as a perishable supply chain organization with research focus, though operating as a regulator/certifier rather than pure association.
- Cold Chain Federation: UK-based trade association for the temperature-controlled storage and distribution industry. Similar membership-association model to CCA but focused on the UK market and ground logistics, providing a regional comparison point.
Direct peers
- BioPhorum: Pharma industry collaboration organization running member-driven working groups on biopharmaceutical supply chain topics. Comparable as a non-profit consortium model for pharma industry collaboration, though with a broader biopharma manufacturing focus rather than pure cold chain.
- Cargo iQ: IATA-linked initiative developing quality standards for air cargo, including a pharma cool chain Care Mapping Pilot that CCA joined in 2020. Directly comparable as an industry-body-driven quality and standards initiative with overlapping member base.
- Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA): International trade association for temperature-controlled warehousing, transportation, and logistics. Directly comparable to CCA as a non-profit industry association addressing cold chain integrity, though with a stronger warehousing and logistics focus versus CCA's airfreight and standards focus.
- Pharma.Aero: Cross-industry collaboration platform for life science logistics, signed an MoU with CCA in December 2023. Directly comparable as a non-profit, membership-based organization focused on pharmaceutical cold chain collaboration, with overlapping member companies and shared initiatives.
Broad incumbents
- International Air Transport Association (IATA): Global trade association for airlines with a much broader mandate; has CEIV-Pharma certification program and Time and Temperature Working Group. CCA and IATA signed an MoU in October 2020, demonstrating overlapping scope and direct collaboration on temperature-sensitive supply chain standards.
Others
- GS1: Global standards organization for supply chain visibility, barcodes, and serialization. Adjacent to CCA because both develop supply chain standards; relevant as an ecosystem enabler for cold chain compliance and serialization initiatives.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cool Chain Association social profiles
Digital presenceCool Chain Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cool Chain Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Cool Chain Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cool Chain Association 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 Cool Chain Association
What does Cool Chain Association do?
Cool Chain Association is a non-profit industry association providing a collaborative community platform for temperature-sensitive supply chain professionals. It offers regular global events (perishables and pharma conferences), a Technical Committee programme that runs collaborative projects, a Resource Centre with white papers and best practices, a searchable Membership Directory, and the Cool Chain Quality Index (CCQI). These services are aimed at reducing food loss in perishables and improving integrity in pharmaceutical logistics.
Is Cool Chain Association a public or private company?
Cool Chain Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Cool Chain Association founded?
Cool Chain Association was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cool Chain Association based?
Cool Chain Association is headquartered in Schrassig, Luxembourg, in the Europe region.
How does Cool Chain Association make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are event Registration Fees.
Who are Cool Chain Association's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB) and Cold Chain Federation. Direct peers are BioPhorum, Cargo iQ, Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) and Pharma.Aero. International Air Transport Association (IATA) is listed as a broad incumbent. GS1 is listed as an others.
Does Cool Chain Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cool Chain Association.
What industry is Cool Chain Association in?
Cool Chain Association's product category is Logistics Industry Association. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAIAIAN, Cold Chain Monitoring, Compliance & Serialization Services (IoT, QA, audits), with a secondary code of TLAIAIAE, Food & Beverage Cold Chain Logistics (Fresh, Chilled, Frozen).