Inauguration of Balmer Lawrie’s new Cold Chain
Unit at Bhubaneswar
Balmer Lawrie & Co. Ltd., a Miniratna I PSE under the Ministry of Petroleum &and
Natural Gas, Government of India announced the unveiling of its new state-of-the-art
Cold Chain Unit at Bhubaneswar, Odisha on July 29,2022.. Shri Rameswar Teli, Hon’ble
Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas & Labour and Employment, Government
of India inaugurated the Cold Chain facility in the presence of Mr. Adika Ratna
Sekhar, Chairman & Managing Director and other senior officials from Balmer Lawrie &
Co. Ltd. The Cold Chain Unit at Chhatabar is Balmer Lawrie’s first Cold Chain Unit
in the Eastern Region and fourth in the country. Balmer Lawrie is an integrated
logistics service provider with pan India state-of-the-art infrastructure and has
been aggressively enhancing its presence in providing cold chain solutions through
its brand LOGICOLD. The setting up of the Cold Chain Unit at Bhubaneswar is in line
with Government of India’s “Act East” policy and “Atma Nirbhar Bharat” initiative.
The Cold Chain Unit in this region will also cater to the growing demands of
seafood, dairy, agri-products industries, and Quick Service Restaurants (QSR).
On the occasion, a press conference was organised at Vivanta Bhubaneswar during
which Mr. Adika Ratna Sekhar, C&MD addressed the media. Mr. Adhip Nath Palchaudhuri,
Director [Service Businesses] and R.M. Uthayaraja Director [Manufacturing
Businesses] were also present.
The Cold Chain Unit is strategically located and is in close proximity to the
national highway making it convenient for the customers. It is equipped with latest
refrigeration technology and automated product handling with minimum human contact
with food and food grade products ensuring product safety and integrity. The
advanced set up is ideal for not only quality food product for export but also
domestic storage of fruits and vegetables particularly potatoes in controlled
temperatures.
Odisha being the 4th largest fish producing state with a nine-fold increase in sea
food exports in last two decades, our Cold Chain Unit at Bhubaneswar is the perfect
“go-to” infrastructure for seafood exporters in this region. It is ably supported by
the Company’s own fleet of Temperature Controlled Vehicles (TCVs) which ensure last
mile delivery. A total investment of Rs. 32 crore was made to set up the Cold Chain
Unit at Bhubaneswar.
The growth of organised 3PL, QSR, retail, e-commerce and food service industries due
to changing consumption patterns have brought the cold chain segments in focus. The
Bhubaneswar Cold Chain Unit is spread over 1.5 acres and with a storage capacity of
2000 pallets (frozen) and 3000 MT (chilled / ambient) caters to various industrial
segments. The Unit has the FSSAI, MPEDA, Factories and Boilers Act 1948 and PCB
certifications and the Fire & Safety license.
Balmer Lawrie LOGICOLD has already marked its presence in Southern (Hyderabad),
Northern (Rai, Delhi NCR) and Western (Patalganga, Navi Mumbai) parts of India and
now with footprints in the Eastern region, along with its TCVs, the SBU: Cold Chain
is all set to service pan India customers as a one-stop shop Cold Chain solutions
provider. The SBU has already created its brand presence during COVID-19 by handling
two COVID-19 vaccines – Covaxin and Sputnik from its Hyderabad unit. The SBU has
further been the trusted partner catering to the top tier QSR. The commissioning of
the Cold Chain Unit at Bhubaneswar is a significant milestone in Balmer Lawrie’s
Logistics roadmap.