Specialty Cold Chain Solutions

Specialty cold chain solutions such as gourmet chocolate, artisan cheese, caviar, and one-off high-value shipments have one thing in common. They get judged the moment the box opens. A temperature swing, a sweating package, or a leaking refrigerant does not just shorten shelf life. It ruins the experience your customer paid for.

Cold Ice® has manufactured gel refrigerants in Oakland, California since 1982. We work with specialty food producers, gourmet retailers, and direct-to-consumer brands to build packouts that leave cold, stay cold, and open clean.

Most shippers work backward from the pack they can buy. If your product has unusual dimensions, we can build the refrigerant around it instead. Custom sizing is available on qualifying bulk orders. Send us your box specs, product footprint, and estimated volume, and we will work out the sizing with you.

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For gourmet and gift shipments, the unboxing is part of the product. Custom-printed packs can carry your logo, a thank-you note, care instructions, or disposal guidance, so the refrigerant reads as part of the presentation instead of packing material.

Harris Ranch Resort Custom Gel Packs manufactured by Cold Ice Inc
  • Space that works harder. A truffle box, a cheese wheel, and a caviar tin all take up space differently. A pack cut to your dimensions sits where the void actually is, so you stop filling gaps with material that does no cooling.
  • Lower freight cost. When the refrigerant fits, you stop sizing up the box to accommodate it. Smaller boxes and less void fill mean less dimensional weight on every shipment.
  • Less to throw away. Your customer unpacks the product and the cooling, not a pile of filler. For gift and subscription shipments, that matters to how the brand comes across.
  • Better contact with the product. Refrigerant only cools what it is near. A custom pack keeps coverage even across the load instead of stacking cold in one corner and leaving the rest to drift.
Cold Ice® manufactures the refrigerant and supplies the rest of the system, so you don’t have to manage three vendors to keep one shipment cold.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best refrigerant for shipping fresh flowers?

Fresh flowers need cool but not cold; typically 34–38°F. Gel ice packs in the right quantity, paired with insulated packaging, help maintain that range without risking freeze damage. The key is matching refrigerant mass to your transit time and ambient temperature. We'll help you dial that in.

Can I use gel packs instead of dry ice for specialty shipping?

For products that need to stay refrigerated, gel packs are a practical, safer alternative to dry ice. No handling restrictions, no sublimation, no hazmat documentation. For truly frozen products, dry ice is still the better fit.

How do I keep cosmetics and skincare from separating or melting in transit?

The right insulation slows heat gain, and the right refrigerant quantity keeps internal temperatures stable. For smaller DTC beauty shipments, insulated mailers or foil pouches paired with a gel pack are often the most cost-effective solution. We can help size the setup for your product and transit lane.

Do you offer eco-friendly or sustainable refrigerant options?

Yes. We offer plant-based and biodegradable gel refrigerant formulations for brands where sustainability matters. Contact us to discuss which options are available for your volume and use case.

Guaranteed Temperature Integrity for Every Mile.

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