AC Logistics Holdings Corp. and subsidiary Glacier Megafridge Inc. have broken ground on Green Rise Engineered Cold Chain Logistics (GRECO), a next-generation automated cold storage and distribution facility in Balintawak, Quezon City.
AC Logistics said the facility was being developed to serve Metro Manila, the country’s largest consumption and distribution center.
Located where EDSA meets the North Luzon Expressway, the facility is expected to provide faster access to Metro Manila’s retail, food service and distribution networks, as well as strengthen connections to Central and Northern Luzon production centers.
The plant will have approximately 25,000 automated pallet positions and be powered by an automated storage and retrieval system using 4-way shuttle technology.
The technology will allow high-density storage, real-time inventory visibility and faster order fulfillment while minimizing manual handling in temperature-controlled environments.
The facility is also expected to improve output, inventory accuracy and workplace safety by removing the need for forklift operations inside freeze chambers and using system-controlled pallet tracking.
The plant will make use of natural refrigerants to reduce environmental impact, in line with the country’s transition to low-emission cooling technologies.
AC Logistics said it was being designed under a renewable energy strategy (RE) that involves energy-efficient facility systems, rooftop solar installations, and possibilities for RE use through available green energy programs.
The facility has a target operation date of February 2028, subject to construction progress and regulatory approvals.
Undertaken with food security and supply resilience in mind, AC Logistics said the project aimed to increase available modern cold storage capacity near major consumer markets.
The project is also expected to generate local employment opportunities from the construction phase to the operations stage, particularly for skilled roles in automation, refrigeration, engineering, and logistics.
AC Logistics and Glacier Megafridge expressed hopes for GRECO to become one of the country’s leading automated cold storage facilities, contributing to the modernization of the Philippines’ cold chain network.
“Through investments in modern, strategic infrastructure, we are strengthening the country’s cold chain network and enabling businesses to move products more efficiently, reliably, and sustainably,” said AC Logistics President and CEO Erry Hardianto.
“GRECO will combine automation, sustainability, and strategic location to better serve businesses that rely on dependable cold storage and distribution in Metro Manila,” said GMI President Archie Yan.
AC Logistics is a 60-40 joint venture of Ayala Corp. and Danish firm A.P. Moller Capital, and holds an 84-percent majority stake in Glacier Megafridge, a leading cold chain and storage provider in the Philippines.
Ayala Corp. shares on Friday slipped P1.00, or 0.18 percent, to close at P540 each.
