Thanks to America’s appetite for animal proteins, the nation’s meat and poultry distribution centers are larger and busier than ever before. With more shipments coming and going, loading dock and freezer/cooler doors are opened more often, resulting in more opportunities to break the cooler-to-trailer cold chain or for pests and outside heat to degrade product. Energy costs are another consideration, as open doors allow expensive cooled air to escape. Fortunately, there are several ways managers can improve their facility’s cold chain, enhancing both food safety and energy efficiency. Here are five suggestions for “buttoning up” your warehouse or distribution center.