Safe shipping of your valuable Chilled Food freight
Canada
United Kingdom
The air route from Montreal to London is ideal for transporting fresh produce and chilled foods, ensuring minimal time in transit and maintaining optimal quality. With temperature-controlled cargo holds, airlines can effectively manage the delicate balance required for both refrigerated and frozen goods. This route also benefits from frequent flights, allowing for flexibility in scheduling and quick replenishment of inventory in the UK market. The swift transit helps reduce spoilage and waste, making it a sustainable choice for businesses dealing in perishable items.
Montreal's Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport is equipped with advanced facilities for handling temperature-sensitive cargo, including specialized loading docks and cold storage areas. Similarly, London Heathrow Airport boasts robust infrastructure designed for the efficient processing of fresh and frozen food, with dedicated customs and handling protocols to expedite clearance. Both airports feature experienced personnel trained in managing the unique requirements of perishable shipments, ensuring that products arrive in peak condition. This infrastructure supports seamless logistics operations, enhancing the supply chain for businesses reliant on high-quality food products.
Comparative analysis of origin and destination capabilities.
Shipments must comply with Canadian export control regulations, including sanctions screening and controlled goods licensing where applicable
All imports are subject to United Kingdom customs, sanitary, and phytosanitary controls, with heightened checks on food, animal products, and chemicals.
DNA Expert Assessment
Very High - Complex Regulatory Environment
High - Fragile/Moisture Sensitive
Consider potential disruptions due to North America winter storms (December-March), which may require alternate routings to ensure timely deliveries. Anticipate increased congestion and longer handling times at ports during the holiday peak (November-December), necessitating secured capacity. Additionally, coordinate closely with carriers for real-time updates on weather impacts and schedule changes, particularly during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday surge (late November-January).
When shipping fresh produce, robust packaging is critical to control temperature and moisture. Our team suggests using thermal liners with Gel packs for refrigerated food and dry i...
Keeping the cold chain for fresh produce demands tightly controlled handling. Reduce door-open time during loading and unloading so frozen goods does not warm or condense. We recom...
For larger volumes of fresh food, booking the correct container type is critical. Our logistics team recommends refrigerated ISO containers for mixed loads of Refrigerated food and...
Exporting refrigerated food often demands additional documentation beyond a standard commercial invoice. Depending on destination, you may need sanitary certificates, temperature-c...
Before pickup, stage perishable goods at the correct temperature: typically 0–4°C for chilled food and −18°C or below for Frozen food. Avoid storing Fresh produce directly on the f...
Moving perishable goods successfully demands a continuous cold chain. Use thermal containers with the right amount of gel packs for Chilled food or dry ice for Frozen food, pre‑chill products before packing, and choose a expedited service. Clearly mark boxes as “Perishable” and specify the required temperature so carriers handle them as temperature-controlled freight.
Yes, Frozen food can in many cases be shipped with dry ice by air, but dry ice is regulated as a dangerous good. Airlines have limits on how much dry ice is allowed per package and per shipment, and labels must show the net weight of dry ice and UN1845 markings. Our compliance team recommends checking carrier and destination rules in advance and combining dry ice with insulated packaging to keep Frozen food at temperature while staying within dry‑ice limits.
Standard cargo policies may limit coverage for temperature-related loss on chilled food and frozen food. Insurance specialists generally recommend arranging a policy that specifically covers temperature deviation and spoilage, and declaring the full value of your Reefer cargo. Keep packing records and temperature logs; insurers often require proof that Proper packaging was used before honoring claims.
Most refrigerated food should stay between 0–4°C, while many frozen goods products must remain at −18°C or colder. Exact ranges depend on the product type and local regulations. Always verify requirements for each item and specify the target range on booking instructions and labels so your Reefer cargo is set correctly.
You can sometimes mix fresh food and frozen goods in the same load, but only if your container or vehicle can maintain separate temperature zones. Chilled food typically needs temperatures above freezing, while Frozen goods must stay well below zero. If only one temperature setpoint is available, most logistics providers recommend separating them into different Reefer cargo shipments to avoid freezing Fresh produce or partially thawing frozen items.
Fresh & Frozen Food requires strict temperature control throughout the air freight process. It is essential to use refrigerated containers for fresh produce and frozen storage for frozen items to maintain optimal quality. Additionally, proper packaging is crucial to prevent spoilage and contamination during transit.
Shipping Fresh & Frozen Food from Montreal to London requires compliance with customs regulations, including a commercial invoice, packing list, and any necessary health certificates. Import permits may also be required by UK authorities, and all products must meet the UK’s food safety standards.
The platform combines historical lane performance, live vessel telemetry, port congestion trends, and weather overlays to calculate constantly updating ETAs that go beyond static carrier estimates.
All customers get access to SAMMIE, where you can track each shipment in real time with predictive ETAs, milestone updates, and instant alerts in a single dashboard.
DNA works with U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP), the FDA, USDA, DOT, and other regulatory bodies, and we maintain active certifications including C-TPAT and FMC.
Call or schedule a call with our sales team to discuss your Montreal → London shipping needs.
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