On 9 July 2026, the Cold Chain Federation brought its members together at the Celtic Manor Resort in Monmouthshire for its annual Summer Party. This member-only event is designed to be friendly, inclusive and enjoyable for all members of the cold chain community.

Why events like this matter

There is a version of running a business in which you keep your head down, focus on your own operation and leave the wider industry to take care of itself. I have never believed that is the right approach, and events like this are part of the reason why.

The cold chain is a specialist industry. The challenges we face, from fuel costs and decarbonisation to driver shortages, regulatory change and the pressures of an increasingly complex food supply chain, are shared ones, and I know first-hand that no single business solves them alone.

The conversations that happen when industry colleagues come together, informally, without an agenda, over a round of golf or a three-course dinner, are often the ones that matter most; ideas get shared, perspectives shift and relationships are built that make the harder conversations easier when they need to happen.

Whether members preferred a round of golf on a world-class course or a day of archery, laser combat and axe throwing through the Cold Chain Games, the event was designed to give people the space to connect and unwind with colleagues old and new. The balance of fun and genuine connection is something the Cold Chain Federation does well, and it is one of the reasons Keep It Cool has maintained a longstanding relationship with the federation.

The value of the Cold Chain Federation

The CCF is not just an events organiser. It is the industry body that represents the cold chain at the highest levels, in front of government, across industry working groups and in the policy conversations that shape the regulatory environment we all operate in. When I have written about fuel costs, net zero targets or the practical realities of running a refrigerated transport business as an SME, the CCF has been part of the same conversation, making the case on behalf of operators like Keep It Cool to the people who make decisions that affect us.

That representation matters. It is how the industry’s voice gets heard in parliament. It is how the gap between policy on paper and operational reality on the ground gets acknowledged. And it is why Keep It Cool’s membership and involvement with the federation is something we take seriously, not just as a commercial decision, but as a contribution to an industry we genuinely care about.

Showing up

Attending and supporting events like the Summer Party is part of how we stay connected to the people and conversations shaping the industry we work in every day. It is how we keep learning, how we maintain relationships that go beyond the transactional, and how we make sure Keep It Cool is part of the broader cold chain community, not just operating within it.

The cold chain keeps food safe, medicines available and supply chains moving. The people running it deserve to spend a day at Celtic Manor once a year. We were glad to be part of it.

About Keep It Cool

Keep It Cool is a specialist refrigerated transport business serving B2B food businesses across the UK. Operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the business provides dedicated same-day temperature-controlled transport with no consolidated loads, no contracts and no compromises.

Founded in 2014 by Managing Director Nikki Redhead, Keep It Cool has grown from a standing start to a £3 million operation, built on reliability, responsiveness and a team that takes responsibility when it matters most.