Welcome to this episode of The New Warehouse Podcast, where Kevin chats with Eric Ristow, VP of Global Technology Services at Lineage. Lineage, formerly Lineage Logistics, is the world’s largest temperature-controlled logistics provider, operating nearly 500 warehouses in 20 countries and moving over 250 billion pounds of food annually.

With a mission to eliminate waste and help feed the world, Lineage is redefining cold chain logistics through innovation, acquisitions, and a strong technology strategy. In this conversation, Eric explains how Lineage integrates disparate systems, leverages data-driven insights, and implements automation and AI to streamline operations and enhance the customer experience.

Technology as the Core Differentiator

For Lineage, technology is not a support function but a key differentiator. As Eric explains, “Our core differentiation is technology. It’s really hard to take such a fragmented business and build efficiencies across the entire network.” Data lies at the heart of this strategy, enabling Lineage to connect hundreds of warehouses and deliver seamless customer experiences.

Their Lineage Link platform provides a single interface for customers, consolidating information from over 100 acquired businesses and giving real-time visibility into inventory positions, orders, and appointments. This platform not only simplifies cold storage operations for large manufacturers but also empowers mid-tier and smaller customers to reduce food waste and respond proactively when the product sits too long in storage.

AI and Data-Driven Cold Storage Operations

AI is not new to Lineage; it’s embedded in their operations. The company uses algorithms to reduce wasted forklift miles, optimize labor productivity, and improve dock scheduling. “The true answer is 62% of the time, material handling equipment is moving in a warehouse without actually carrying any product. We need to eliminate that and minimize that as much as possible,” Eric notes.

Lineage sequences tasks and directs operators to the next best activity, cutting inefficiencies and energy costs. Another application, called flywheeling, uses AI and sensor data to cool warehouses at night when energy costs are low and reduces energy usage during peak demand hours, reducing operating expenses without compromising product integrity.

Automation and Employee Experience

Innovation and technology are central to improving both efficiency and worker conditions in cold storage operations. Lineage deploys automated cranes and case-picking systems in select facilities, tailored to customer profiles and SKU requirements. Yet Eric emphasizes that “automation isn’t always about robots replacing people—it’s also about directing people precisely to what they should be doing.”

Wearable technologies, gloves, and freezer-rated equipment are part of the challenge, and Lineage continues to test solutions that improve usability in extreme cold. Importantly, automation reduces the time workers spend in freezers, improving safety and employee experience. As Eric points out, “Ultimately, we want to keep them out of the freezer. If they’re going in, they need to find the product and get out quickly.”

Key Takeaways on Cold Storage Operations

• Lineage operates nearly 500 warehouses in 20 countries, moving 250 billion pounds of food annually.
• The Lineage Link platform consolidates data from over 100 acquisitions, giving customers real-time visibility.
• Material handling equipment runs empty 62% of the time. Lineage reduces this waste through AI-driven tasking.
• Flywheeling helps cut energy costs by cooling at night and reducing demand during peak hours.
• Automation improves efficiency while enhancing employee safety in extreme cold environments.

Episode 621: Harnessing Technology to Advance Cold Storage Operations at Lineage