Celcius Logistics: Transforming India's Cold-Chain Infrastructure for a Sustainable Future

In November 2020, during the peak of the pandemic, Swarup Bose, Rajneesh Raman, and Arbind Jain established Celcius Logistics with a mission to revolutionize India's cold-chain infrastructure. Since then, the startup has achieved significant milestones, including raising Rs 100 crore in its recent Series A funding round led by IvyCap Ventures Advisors Private Limited. Celcius Logistics has garnered an impressive clientele that includes renowned names like Zepto, Zomato, Maersk, Prabhat Dairy, Baskin Robbins, Vadilal, Domino's, Keventers, and Godrej Agro, among others. With the infusion of fresh funds, Celcius Logistics aims to expand its operations and create a seamless, unbroken cold supply chain to ensure food security for all.

Celcius Logistics has been at the forefront of improving cold-chain logistics in India, addressing critical inefficiencies that contribute to food waste. In August 2022, the company launched a smart last-mile delivery platform specifically designed for the cold supply chain. This platform integrates with a network of refrigerated vehicles, known as reefer vehicles, and features an Inventory Management System (IMS) tailored for cold supply management. The IMS includes temperature management, humidity control, and shelf life tracking capabilities.

The last-mile service has expanded to over 200 partner vehicles across 11 cities, serving sectors such as e-commerce, pharma, frozen commodities, fresh produce, and other perishable industries. Celcius Logistics' hyperlocal delivery service, introduced in October 2022, leverages technology to reduce in-transit wastage of perishables while ensuring speed, quality, and agility. The service has expanded to multiple cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune, with a growing fleet of over 100 riders. The company has secured distribution contracts from cloud kitchen clients, including Zomato, further strengthening its hyperlocal delivery platform.

In terms of growth, Celcius Logistics claims to have achieved a 20-fold increase in the past year alone, with an annualized run rate (ARR) of nearly Rs 100 crore. The startup aims to triple its growth and reach a target ARR of Rs 300 crore by the next year, relying on its existing verticals to drive this expansion.

Celcius Logistics is committed to building an unbroken cold supply chain in India, and its Vahaan Vikas Yojana scheme is a key initiative in this endeavor. This scheme facilitates the aggregation of small reefer vehicles and supports new entrants in the cold supply chain sector. The startup has also ventured into international markets, enabling traders to engage in the import and export of products such as exotic fruits and seafood between regions like Nepal, Afghanistan, and India.

With a focus on sustainability and reducing perishable wastage through innovative tech solutions, Celcius Logistics is working towards a meaningful impact on the ecosystem. Swarup Bose, Founder and CEO of Celcius, envisions a future where food security is enhanced, and cold-chain logistics are more efficient and sustainable.