Seafrigo caters to Australian export demand with new state-of-the art Melbourne facility

Seafrigo Australia Pty Ltd trading as Mode Logistics across Australia has opened a new state-of-the-art facility at Melbourne Airport, marking a significant milestone in the company’s strategic growth and commitment to serving the global food logistics sector.

The new warehouse for the cold chain logistics expert, specializing in food logistics, spans an impressive 10,000 square meters - quadrupling the space of the previous facility and vastly increasing operational capacity. This expansion allows Seafrigo Australia to handle preload units more efficiently, ensuring smoother processing and extended loading windows for both day and night operations.

“We’re no longer a step behind the competition - we’re a step ahead,” says Jason Farrugia, CEO of Mode Logistics. “The additional space gives us the ability to preload units overnight and again in the morning, helping us meet critical cut-off times and enhance our service reliability.”

The facility has been specifically designed to meet the growing demands of Seafrigo’s airfreight business. It features a full range of temperature-controlled zones, including frozen storage (-16°C to -20°C), chilled storage (0°C to 4°C), and ambient temperature areas. These capabilities are essential for handling the wide array of sensitive exports Seafrigo specializes in, such as meat, fish (fresh and frozen), dairy products, horticultural goods, and various supermarket items.

“Until now, we had to turn down business because we simply didn’t have the space to accommodate more. With this new facility, we’re not only meeting current demand but setting the stage for expansion into new markets,” Jason added.

The new Melbourne facility is also equipped with biosecurity-compliant infrastructure, including fumigation chambers and a fully enclosed shutter system on the docks, ideal for safeguarding temperature-sensitive shipments. These measures align with Australia’s strict biodiversity and biosecurity laws - among the most stringent in the world.

Located within a major 400-hectare logistics development at Melbourne Airport, the facility offers direct access to Victoria’s road network, providing seamless connectivity across the eastern seaboard and beyond.

As one of Australia’s top three export service providers, Seafrigo is positioned to scale both its inbound and outbound services - currently focused 90% on export - and plans to introduce enhanced quality inspection capabilities and upgraded warehouse management systems later this year.

“Our investment in this new site underscores our commitment to operational excellence, customer satisfaction, and importantly, global reach. It will open up more opportunities in other international locations especially those in the Middle East and Asia which we serve from here,” concluded Eric Barbé, President and Founder of Seafrigo.