GFH Partners dives into US cold storage boom

GFH Partners, the Dubai International Financial Centre-headquartered asset management company, has made a strategic move into the fast-growing US cold storage sector, completing a co-investment in Cold-Link Logistics alongside Slate Asset Management and funds managed by Hamilton Lane.

The investment marks an expansion of GFH Partners’ global logistics strategy and reflects rising investor interest in temperature-controlled infrastructure, driven by long-term shifts in food consumption, supply chain resilience and e-commerce growth. The deal was completed with a wider consortium of institutional investors.

GFH targets temperature-controlled logistics

Cold-Link Logistics is one of the ten largest privately held cold storage owner-operators in North America. The platform owns and operates a geographically diversified portfolio of modern temperature-controlled facilities across key food and logistics corridors in the United States. Its network comprises nine facilities with a combined storage capacity of more than 78 million cubic feet.

The facilities provide freezer, cooler and ambient storage, supported by a range of value-added services including case picking, blast freezing, labelling and freight solutions. Cold-Link serves more than 250 customers across over ten food categories, with long-standing relationships spanning producers, distributors and retailers nationwide.

GFH Partners said the investment would support Cold-Link’s next phase of growth, including expansion into additional strategic US markets. The firm views cold storage as a defensive, high-growth subsector within logistics, benefiting from strong structural tailwinds such as population growth, increased consumption of fresh and frozen foods, the rapid expansion of e-grocery, and tightening food safety and traceability requirements.

Nael Mustafa, Chief Executive Officer of GFH Partners, said: “Cold storage represents one of the most compelling segments within the logistics ecosystem today, driven by essential demand dynamics and the need for modern, scalable infrastructure. We are delighted to partner with Slate, Hamilton Lane, and our co-investors to support Cold-Link’s ambitious growth trajectory and to bring long term value to our institutional partners.”

The transaction underlines GFH Partners’ focus on essential real assets that can deliver resilient performance across market cycles. With modern facilities and a customer-centric operating model, Cold-Link is positioned to capture continued demand for reliable, temperature-controlled logistics as food supply chains evolve.

The investment also highlights the growing role of Gulf-based capital in global logistics and infrastructure, as regional investors increasingly seek exposure to stable, income-generating assets in mature international markets.