NewCold Nears Completion of €50 Million Argentan Cold Storage Expansion in France

NewCold is nearing completion of a more than €50 million expansion of its cold storage facility in Argentan, France, a project that will add 40,000 pallet positions and double the site's storage capacity, the company announced. Patrick Duquennoy, NewCold's Country Manager France, invited customers, partners and employees to an official inauguration at the Argentan site on Thursday, Nov. 19.

NewCold Argentan Expansion: Project Details

NewCold said it invested more than €50 million in the expansion to meet growing customer demand and support its future development. The project, now close to completion, adds 40,000 pallet positions to the Normandy facility, located at ZI de la Pucelle, Route de Putanges, in Argentan.

The expansion incorporates advanced automation, new freezing capacity and increased loading capacity. NewCold said these features reinforce its commitment to operational excellence and position the Argentan site for sustainable growth in the coming years. The facility uses automated storage and retrieval systems and additional freezing tunnels. The existing site holds approximately 38,500 pallet positions, operates at temperatures as low as approximately -23 degrees Celsius, and has a building height of 31 meters. Combined with the new capacity, the facility would hold roughly 78,500 to 79,500 pallet positions.

The investment is expected to create about 30 new jobs, which NewCold said consolidates its long-standing commitment to the region and local community.

Argentan's Role in NewCold's Network

Argentan was NewCold's first official site and marked the start of the company's international expansion. In his invitation, Duquennoy described it as a cornerstone of the company's global network that embodies NewCold's values of innovation, sustainability and long-term partnerships.

NewCold operated 15 cold storage facilities across three continents as of 2025. The company has announced other major capital commitments, including a €70 million expansion in Italy and a large automated warehouse investment in Maryland.

The Argentan expansion responds to rising demand from YSCO and other regional food companies. The site's proximity to the A28 motorway supports its role as a regional distribution location.

French Cold Storage and Logistics Market Context

France's cold storage sector has grown in recent years. Employment in refrigerated warehousing reached 26,135 people across 426 establishments at the end of 2025, up 19.7% from 2019. Refrigeration accounts for about 40% of the energy spending of a temperature-controlled storage building, a cost pressure that makes energy efficiency and automation relevant to operators.

The broader French logistics market is recovering unevenly. National logistics vacancy stood at about 7.5% in mid-2026, while regional vacancy rates ranged from 1% to 12%. The market also shows a mismatch between available space and occupier requirements, particularly for technically specialized buildings. Prime logistics yields reached approximately 5.00% at the end of June 2026.

Because conventional warehouses cannot readily substitute for freezer-grade facilities with specialized loading, freezing and power infrastructure, the Argentan project adds capacity at an existing operating location rather than through speculative development.

Inauguration Details

The celebration will take place at the Argentan site on Nov. 19. NewCold asked guests to confirm attendance by Nov. 5, 2026, through its registration form. Further information is available from the NewCold team at marketing.communications@newcold.com.

Outlook

With the Argentan expansion, NewCold is increasing capacity at its first site as part of a broader platform of automated cold storage facilities. The project is a development and expansion of an operating asset rather than a property sale.

Sources

• NewCold: Inauguration officielle de l'extension de l'entrepôt NewCold d'Argentan