26 March, 2020. Washington, D.C. —  The Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) has partnered with the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), which launched an online portal to assist hundreds of distillers who are producing hand sanitizer to help solve the national shortage created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

GCCA’s members, third-party logistics companies, such as cold storage warehouses and transportation companies, as well as design-build and supply companies, are a critical link in the cold chain for our food supply. Ninety-five percent of the food produced and manufactured in or imported into the United States goes through third-party warehouses and distribution centers before it reaches American consumers.
As part of the food and agriculture sector, our members have been deemed an “essential business and service” under the Presidential Policy Directive 21 (PPD-21) in recognition of the essential role our members have in keeping the country safe and fed during the Coronavirus emergency. Hand sanitizer is an important component in keeping food supply chain company facilities clean and disinfected.

Acknowledging that hospitals and the medical industry are first in line for the product, we ask that the food supply industry be one of the next in line. “GCCA commends and thanks these distilleries and DISCUS for their efforts in helping fight the spread of the COVID-19 virus,” says Megan Costello, Interim President & CEO. “By voluntarily shifting from producing alcohol alone to producing hand sanitizer, they are playing an essential role in helping keep the nation’s food supplies moving. We encourage our members to reach out to a local distillery today.”

Visit the online distillery portal here. Visit GCCA's online Coronavirus portal here.

About the Global Cold Chain Alliance

Comprised of its Core Partners, including the International Association of Refrigerated Warehouses (IARW), the World Food Logistics Organization (WFLO), the International Refrigerated Transportation Association (IRTA), and the Controlled Environment Building Association (CEBA), the Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) represents all major industries engaged in temperature-controlled logistics. GCCA unites all partners to be innovative leaders in the temperature-controlled products industry.

About the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States

The Distilled Spirits Council is the leading voice and advocate for distilled spirits in the United States. Representing the leading producers and marketers of distilled spirits, the Council advocates on legislative, regulatory and public affairs issues impacting the distilled spirits sector at the local, state, federal and international levels; promotes the distilled spirits sector, raising awareness and opening markets in the United States and around the globe; and encourages responsible and moderate consumption of distilled spirits as part of a healthy adult lifestyle based on evidence-based research and policy.