Ambient vs Temperature-Controlled Warehouse for FMCG
Ambient warehouse storage has no cooling, so its temperature follows the weather, while temperature-controlled storage holds a set range. Use ambient only for products whose pack and shelf life tolerate Indian summer heat. Move any product whose storage statement sets a ceiling into controlled space. For a head of supply chain at an FMCG, confectionery […]
Cold Chain for D2C Brands: When to Move to a 3PL
A D2C food brand should move from its own freezers to a 3PL when volume, city spread or spoilage complaints outgrow its own setup. Most D2C orders spoil at the pack and courier handover, not in storage. Fix those two points first, then decide whether storage moves. For a founder or COO at a frozen, […]
Cold Storage Insurance: Who Pays When Your Stock Spoils?
Cold storage insurance in India is usually bought by the cold store, and it covers narrow events. Under the Deterioration of Stock wording I read, a refrigeration stoppage of under 24 hours, a power failure and fire are all excluded. Your stock is protected only if you check what each party’s cover pays for. For […]
Dedicated or Shared Cold Storage: Which Model Fits You?
Choose shared cold storage when your volume swings and your product and audit needs are standard. Choose a dedicated chamber, or a built-to-suit site, when volume is steady and your product, audit or customer rules need tighter control. The cheaper-looking option is the wrong one if it breaks your set points or your audit scope. […]
EIA Approved Cold Storage: What Seafood Exporters Must Verify
For seafood export, “EIA approved cold storage” means a cold store approved within the Export Inspection Council system, with its own number and category. Independent cold stores storing frozen fish of approved establishments have their own requirements, application and assessment. Verify the approval before export stock moves in, not at the port. For an export […]
Physical Verification of Inventory Held by a Third Party
Stock held in a 3PL cold store can be verified by third-party confirmation, by inspection, or both. Under SA 501, where that inventory is material, the auditor chooses procedures to get sufficient evidence of quantity and condition. In a frozen chamber, plan the count before year end so it does not warm the stock. For […]
Reefer Truck Rent per Km in India: What Drives the Rate
Reefer truck rent per km in India depends less on distance than on set point, reefer running time, empty returns and dwell at docks. Two per-km quotes for the same route are rarely comparable. Convert each quote to a cost per pallet-km, including the empty return, before you compare. For a logistics manager at a […]
GST on Cold Storage Charges: Reading the 3PL Invoice Right
A cold storage invoice usually carries more than one tax treatment. Storing unprocessed agricultural produce is nil-rated under Entry 54(e) of Notification 12/2017, while storage of other goods and rented premises are reported at 18%. TDS then depends on whether the payment is for work or for rent. For an accounts executive at a frozen […]
GST Registration for Goods in Cold Storage in Another State
A brand registered in one state may need a second GST registration if it keeps stock in a third-party cold store in another state. CBIC’s letter of 25 September 2025 says so for a Delhi business storing goods in Haryana, when its supplies leave from that location. For a finance controller at a Delhi-NCR food […]
FSSAI Perishable Food Temperature Advisory: How to Avoid Seizure
FSSAI’s advisory of 15 October 2026 tells businesses handling khoya, paneer, meat or fish to hold them at prescribed temperatures, from sourcing to the consumer. Food Safety Officers can seize and destroy stock that breaks the chain. For a QA head at a mithai brand shipping khoya before Diwali, the FSSAI advisory on temperature control […]