An optimization framework for energy-driven food cold chain network design

Cold Food Supply Chains (CFSCs) are crucial for sourcing, consolidating, and delivering fresh food from suppliers to consumers. However, they also account for up to 35 % of the food industry's energy consumption. This study introduces an optimization framework aimed at strategically designing more energy-efficient cold chain networks. It takes into consideration the impact of site-specific climate and irradiance conditions on refrigeration energy consumption in warehouse facilities, along with logistical considerations. The framework incorporates a Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model for energy-focused cold chain facility network design. A case study, applied to a nationwide fresh fruit retailer supply chain in Italy, highlights the practical benefits of this approach. Results demonstrate that by strategically locating refrigerated warehouses in areas naturally shielded by mountain reliefs, the model achieves a 23 % reduction in energy consumption and a 5 % total cost saving compared to a business-as-usual scenario. These findings underline the importance of integrating environmental parameters, such as climatic and irradiance conditions, into cold chain network design to enhance energy efficiency and sustainability while maintaining logistical feasibility.