Lisbon retrofit proves NewCold's expertise extends beyond greenfield developments

NewCold has successfully completed its first brownfield transformation project, marking an important milestone in the company’s continued growth and evolution. The Lisbon Retrofit demonstrates that the expertise, standards, and project discipline developed through years of delivering world class greenfield facilities can also be successfully applied to existing warehouse environments. The project established a blueprint for future brownfield transformations across the NewCold network.

Originally acquired as part of NewCold’s entry into Portugal, the Lisbon facility has undergone a major modernization programme while remaining partially operational throughout the implementation. The project included the installation of a 1D Shuttle system, racking modifications, dock upgrades to improve safety and energy efficiency, new floor and broader refurbishment works across the site. These improvements increased storage capacity from 7,000 to 10,000 pallet locations while enhancing operational efficiency and future growth potential.

Delivering a brownfield transformation presents challenges that differ significantly from a greenfield development. Construction and implementation activities must be completed within a live operating environment while maintaining service levels, safety standards, and business continuity. The successful completion of the Lisbon Retrofit highlights the value of strong governance, cross functional collaboration, and disciplined project execution.

As part of the transformation, the site was also rebranded to NewCold Lisbon and repositioned to support future customer growth in the Portuguese market. Earlier this year, Country Manager Portugal Nuno Lagartixo highlighted the strategic importance of the investment, noting that the new semi-automated storage model would provide greater operational flexibility while significantly increasing storage capacity.

Nuno Lagartixo, Country Manager Portugal, said:

“The Lisbon Retrofit represents much more than a capacity expansion. It demonstrates how we can combine NewCold’s global expertise in automation and warehouse design with the realities of an existing operation. By transforming a live facility while maintaining service for our customers, we have created a stronger, more efficient platform for future growth and established a model that can support similar projects across our network.”

The successful go live of the Lisbon Retrofit reinforces NewCold’s ability to deliver both greenfield and brownfield projects to the same high standards. The methodologies, lessons learned, and operational experience gained in Lisbon will help shape future retrofit projects as NewCold continues to expand and modernize its global network.