In the rapidly evolving landscape of fresh food retail and wholesale, driven by the explosive growth of e-commerce, maintaining product quality throughout the delivery process is crucial. Recognizing this necessity, CP Axtra Public Company Limited (SET: CPAXT), the operator behind Makro and Lotus’s, has introduced the “VIP Cool Box” – a pioneering vacuum-insulated solution designed to keep fresh food at a controlled temperature for up to 24 hours during customer delivery as well as other internal usage.
The VIP Cool Box incorporates cutting-edge engineering with a multi-layered structure, featuring advanced insulation materials such as vacuum glass fiber, polyurethane foam, aluminum foil, and specialized polymers. This construction ensures exceptional thermal retention and durability, while a built-in display allows for efficient temperature monitoring and management throughout the logistics journey.
According to the details given by CP Axtra at the expo, traditional foam boxes retain cold temperatures for only 6-8 hours – insufficient for the demands of modern e-commerce and omnichannel retail. The VIP Cool Box leverages vacuum technology to minimize thermal exchange, providing up to 24 hours of temperature maintenance. Its vacuum-insulated panels not only separate chilled and frozen goods within the same box, but are also ergonomically designed for durability and easy cleaning.
Beyond improving delivery standards, the VIP Cool Box supports CP Group’s commitment to sustainability and operational efficiency. Prototype trials involving 1,260 units demonstrated the potential to significantly reduce cooling equipment costs. If rolled out nationwide across all Makro branches, CP Axtra projects cumulative savings of over 170 million baht on an 80 million baht investment, primarily through reduced cooling device expenses.
Currently, the VIP Cool Box is in use at three major Makro branches—Ladprao, Srinakarin, and Sathorn—all hubs for high-volume fresh food deliveries. CP Axtra plans to scale up usage to 15,000 boxes nationwide by 2027. The company’s patent application for the VIP Cool Box underscores its innovation leadership and commercial scalability.
Showcased at the CP Innovation Exposition and Symposium 2025, under the theme “Innovate the Future for a Better Tomorrow,” the VIP Cool Box exemplifies CP Axtra and CP Group’s technology-driven approach and its broader missions in corporate social responsibility (CSR).
