Cold Storage Business Valuation
Cold Storage & Refrigerated Warehouse Valuation Calculator & Exit Planning Built for Cold Storage Owners
We built one platform that tracks your cold storage facility's value monthly, identifies exit gaps early, and ensures your personal finances align with your exit timeline.
1,000+ Businesses have joined YourExitValue.com
Most Cold Storage Owners Have No Idea What Their Facility is Actually Worth
Current Cold Storage / Refrigerated Warehouse Valuation Multiples (2026)
Cold storage valuations command premiums due to barriers to entry and food supply importance. Here's the market:
Every business is different. That's why you need to track your value.
Included in Your Exit Value is a complete Exit Planning Assessment where you track your progress quarterly against your results from the previous quarter.
Know your number and watch it grow
Most business owners guess at their value. You'll know it with precision.
Our platform uses six proven valuation methodologies to give you a complete picture of what your business is worth today—and tracks how that number changes month over month. No more waiting for annual appraisals or paying $15K+ for outdated reports.
See your trends. Spot opportunities. Make informed decisions
What Actually Drives Cold Storage Value
Your temperature management matters, but sophisticated buyers evaluate these factors that determine premium pricing:
Capacity & Utilization
High Pallet Utilization
How many pallet positions do you have and what's your average utilization? High utilization demonstrates demand; underutilization may indicate market or operational issues. Track utilization over time—seasonal patterns are normal but understand your baseline.
Low utilization = demand questions
Temperature Zones
Multiple Temp Zones: Frozen, Cooler
Facilities with multiple temperature zones—frozen, refrigerated, cool—serve broader customer needs. Multi-temp capability captures more product types. Single-temp facilities have more limited customer base.
Single temp = limited products
Customer Diversification
No Customer > 25% Revenue
Customer concentration creates risk in cold storage just like any business. Diversified customer bases across food manufacturers, distributors, and retailers provide stability. Track concentration and work to diversify.
Concentrated = dependency risk
Equipment Condition
Modern Refrigeration, Well-Maintained
Refrigeration equipment is capital-intensive and critical. Modern, well-maintained systems support operations and valuation. Aging refrigeration facing replacement creates capex requirements that impact value. Know your equipment age and condition.
Old equipment = capex liability
Food Safety Certifications
SQF, FSMA Compliant
Food safety certifications (SQF, BRC) and FSMA compliance are increasingly required by customers. Certified facilities can serve customers that non-certified can't. Certification demonstrates operational sophistication.
No certifications = customer limits
Value-Added Services
Blast Freezing, Repack, Cross-Dock
Beyond storage, value-added services—blast freezing, tempering, repacking, cross-docking—generate additional revenue and deepen customer relationships. Services differentiate from pure storage competitors.
Storage-only = commodity
How to Value a Cold Storage Business
The U.S. cold storage and refrigerated warehouse market includes approximately 900 facilities generating over $15 billion in annual revenue. Cold storage facilities provide temperature-controlled warehousing for food manufacturers, distributors, and retailers.
EBITDA is the primary valuation method. Cold storage businesses typically sell for 6.0x to 12.0x EBITDA — premium multiples reflecting high barriers to entry, critical service nature, and strong demand growth. Real estate value often represents a significant additional component.
Revenue multiples generally range from 1.0x to 2.5x annual revenue. Facilities with blast freezing, value-added processing, and transportation capabilities achieve the upper end.
The unique valuation factor for cold storage is the facility infrastructure and energy efficiency. Cold storage facilities require specialized construction — insulated panels, refrigeration systems, loading docks, and backup power — representing tens of millions in replacement cost. Energy costs (primarily refrigeration) are the largest operating expense, making system efficiency critical to profitability. Modern ammonia or CO2 refrigeration systems with energy management controls provide significant operating advantages over older facilities. Storage capacity utilization, customer mix, and the ability to handle multiple temperature zones (frozen, refrigerated, controlled atmosphere) increase flexibility and value.
Cold storage has attracted significant PE and REIT investment, driven by e-commerce grocery growth and food supply chain demands. Use our free calculator above to get your instant estimate, then track your value monthly with YourExitValue.
Frequently Asked Questions
What multiple do cold storage facilities sell for?
Cold storage facilities typically sell for 5.0x – 9.0x SDE or 8x – 14x EBITDA—premium multiples due to barriers to entry. Facilities with modern equipment, certifications, and diversified customers command top multiples.
How does equipment condition affect cold storage value?
Significantly. Refrigeration is capital-intensive. Modern, well-maintained systems support valuation. Aging equipment facing replacement creates capex that impacts offers.
Who buys cold storage facilities?
National cold storage companies (Americold, Lineage, etc.), PE-backed cold chain platforms, food companies building captive capacity, and logistics companies adding cold capability.
Do food safety certifications matter?
Yes. SQF, BRC, and similar certifications are increasingly required. Certified facilities can serve customers that non-certified cannot. Certification demonstrates quality.
Does temperature zone variety affect value?
Yes. Multi-temp facilities (frozen, cooler, ambient) serve broader needs. Single-temperature facilities have more limited customer bases.
What's the fastest way to increase my cold storage value?
Three high-impact moves: 1) Modernize refrigeration equipment, 2) Achieve food safety certifications (SQF), 3) Diversify customer base to reduce concentration.