KPS Global on MarketScale | Cold Storage Expert Content

Insulated panel systems for every cold storage application.

KPS Global manufactures insulated panel systems for convenience stores, grocery retailers, foodservice operators, and industrial enclosures. Their MarketScale channel gives procurement and facilities professionals access to product expertise, installation guidance, and cold chain best practices. KPS Global is the leading domestic supplier of walk-in cooler and freezer systems.

57 episodes

Channel Brief·KPS Global · 57 episodes

Updated Oct 1, 2024

Custom cold storage scales with controlled-environment versatility

KPS Global builds insulated panel systems across food retail, healthcare, and industrial sectors. The channel documents product innovation, supply-chain resilience, and the business case for customization at scale.

KPS Global argues that cold storage and controlled-environment solutions are not commodities but engineered systems that demand deep customization, supplier relationships, and manufacturing scale. The channel proves this through 23 episodes spanning product case studies, supply-chain narratives, leadership transitions, and real-world customer challenges from vaccine distribution to e-commerce micro-fulfillment centers.

Drawn from Viessmann Generations Group completes acquisit… and 3 more →

“Automation is essential to grocery store's future. Automation isn't a bad thing.”
Joe McMenamin, Business Development for Grocery Fulfillment, KPS Global

By the numbers

750,000

square feet of manufacturing space across five U.S. states

3.4%

Online grocery sales as a share of total market in 2019

~$36 billion

Total online grocery sales in 2019 despite 3.4% market share

45.6 million

U.S. online grocery shoppers as of June 2020

What the channel argues

DataKPS Global operates 750,000 square feet across five states with state-of-the-art automation and robotics.→

InsightKPS Global is the largest provider of custom walk-ins in the food retail market.→

InsightViessmann Generations Group acquired KPS Global in October 2024 to strengthen custom enclosure capability and global reach.→

InsightKPS Global won a Bronze Edison Award for the Arctic Express Pack gel freezer system in the Manufacturing, Logistics & Transportation category.→

DataOnline grocery sales were 3.4% of total grocery sales in 2019, representing nearly $36 billion.→

Data45.6 million U.S. consumers were online grocery shoppers as of June 2020, a 6% increase from the previous month.→

What you'll learn

•How large-scale manufacturing of insulated panels requires both automation and long-standing supplier relationships to guarantee on-time delivery.

•Why condensation and humidity management in cold storage demand real-time monitoring of surface temperature and dew point, not trial-and-error troubleshooting.

•How e-commerce disruption in grocery retail drives demand for micro-fulfillment centers with integrated cold storage and robotics.

•Why vertical farms and alternative retail formats require customized cold storage solutions, not off-the-shelf units.

•How KPS Global scaled vaccine distribution infrastructure during COVID-19 by treating cold storage as a critical healthcare platform.

What to do about it

→Audit your walk-in cooler or freezer's surface temperature and humidity levels to identify condensation and efficiency losses before they compound.

→If implementing e-commerce grocery fulfillment, integrate micro-fulfillment centers with purpose-built cold storage infrastructure rather than retrofitting existing spaces.

→For mission-critical cold storage (vaccine, pharmaceutical, blood bank), engage a manufacturer who can customize walk-in specifications to your exact temperature and access requirements.

Who and what shows up

Mike Eakins

CEO, KPS Global

Articulated KPS Global's commitment to sustainable innovation and recognized the company's role in cold chain infrastructure across food, healthcare, and logistics.

Joe McMenamin

Director of eCommerce, KPS Global

Detailed the intersection of robotics, micro-fulfillment centers, and grocery e-commerce, and explained how retailers must own data and fulfillment to compete.

James Costanza

Technical Fellow, KPS Global

Contributed multiple patents and innovations in walk-in freezer efficiency and thermodynamics, and mentored successors in R&D before preparing for retirement.

Jason Bratcher

Director of Construction Services, West Coast, KPS Global

Provided field-tested guidance on diagnosing and solving condensation issues in walk-in coolers by analyzing humidity and surface temperature.

Viessmann Generations Group

Family-owned investment firm, founded 1917

Acquired KPS Global in October 2024, reinforcing the company's position as a leader in custom enclosures for mission-critical industries and signaling long-term strategic commitment.

Questions this channel answers

How do you prevent condensation in walk-in coolers and freezers?

Monitor surface temperature and humidity to calculate the dew point. Condensation occurs when warm, humid air meets a cold surface; seal faulty panels and manage door openings to reduce humidity ingress.

Cooler News: Fighting Back Against Condensation in Walk-… →

Why do retailers and grocery operators need custom cold storage rather than standard units?

Custom solutions address unique applications from near 180-degree floral coolers to vaccine storage, blood banks, and clean rooms. One size does not fit the variety of retail and healthcare environments.

Beyond Cold Storage: KPS Global’s Versatility in Control… →

How does e-commerce disrupt traditional grocery cold storage?

Online ordering and curbside pickup create demand for micro-fulfillment centers with integrated cold storage and robotics, requiring retailers to own data and fulfillment infrastructure rather than rely on third-party platforms.

What Does Ecommerce Mean in the Grocery Space →

What supply-chain risks arose during the COVID-19 pandemic for manufacturers?

Global supply chain disruption forced KPS Global to source quickly, diversify suppliers, and maintain inventory buffers. The company prioritized staying ahead of pandemic-driven demand spikes while securing completed items from reliable partners.

Cooler News: Managing the Supply Chain During the Pandem… →

Best place to start

Redefining Cold Chain Solutions with KPS Global’s Unmatched ScaleCEO Mike Eakins outlines KPS Global's 70-year legacy, 750,000 square feet of manufacturing, and applications from food retail to vaccine distribution.

Leading the Way: KPS Global Powers Diverse Industries with Custom Cold Storage SolutionsEstablishes KPS Global as the largest custom walk-in provider in food retail and explains the customization-first approach that differentiates the company.

Topics:Walk-in coolers and freezersInsulated panel systemsE-commerce grocery fulfillmentCold chain logisticsVaccine and pharmaceutical storage

Themes:Customization over standardization in controlled-environment designManufacturing scale as a competitive advantage in cold chain deliveryCold storage as foundational infrastructure for emerging retail and healthcare models

Industry context

Cold chain logistics market is projected to grow at 4.4% annually through 2033, driven by demand for temperature-controlled solutions across healthcare and retail sectors.

Future Trends in Cold Chain Logistics Market 2026-2033 (linkedin.com) ↗Top Supply Chain Technology Trends for 2026 (mhlnews.com) ↗