DIF inaugura con Geotrans il nuovo Hub multitemperatura a Catania

DIF and Geotrans Open New Hub in Catania

The first DIF Network hub hosted by a network partner strengthens food distribution to and from Sicily and opens up new opportunities for collaboration across the food and beverage supply chain.

On 5 November 2026, DIF – Distribuzione Italiana Food opened a new multi-temperature hub in Catania in collaboration with Geotrans, a Sicilian company specialising in food transport and distribution. ·

The opening marks a milestone in the network’s development. It is the first DIF hub hosted by a network partner, a model that integrates existing local infrastructure and expertise into a coordinated nationwide distribution system.

With the addition of Catania, the network now operates five hubs across its national and regional network, expanding its presence in Sicily and increasing its capacity to handle food shipments to and from the island.

DIF and Geotrans: A Partnership That Strengthens the Network

The new hub brings together DIF’s operating model and Geotrans’s expertise in handling temperature-controlled products and distributing them to major retailers.

Opening a hub at a network partner’s premises introduces a new way for DIF to expand by combining existing infrastructure and local expertise with nationwide coordination.

Under this model, each company retains its own business identity and contributes to the network’s growth through its experience and knowledge of the local market. Geotrans supports the shared distribution system by providing infrastructure capacity and operational expertise.

As Antonio Cuozzo, Director of DIF Network, puts it, “Collaboration is the main driver of DIF Network’s growth.”

In practice, this means sharing freight flows, information and capacity to create more opportunities for individual companies and improve service across the food supply chain.

Multi-Temperature Hub in Catania

Located at the Contrada Giancata logistics complex in Catania, the new hub provides 14,000 m² of covered space divided into three zones to meet different food storage requirements.

9,000 m² for ambient products
3,000 m² for chilled products at 0 to +4 °C
2,000 m² for frozen products at −25 °C

The warehouse also has 15,000 pallet positions on five-tier racking, 16 loading bays, four of which connect to the temperature-controlled staging area serving the refrigerated storage zones, and a 36,000 m² manoeuvring area.

The multi-temperature layout allows the hub to handle different categories of food products within a single facility while maintaining the storage conditions each category requires.

This setup helps coordinate food and beverage shipments, where temperature control, proper handling and continuity of operations are essential to preserving product integrity.

New Connections for Sicilian Producers and the Wider DIF Network

The opening of the new Catania hub strengthens the link between Sicily and DIF’s national distribution network, creating new opportunities for food producers, DIF network partners and specialist transport companies. The hub combines multi-temperature storage, local expertise and shared coordination tools to improve the management of shipments to and from the island.

For food and beverage producers, the new hub provides access to an extensive distribution network that connects Sicilian producers with markets across Italy and serves a range of sales channels, from large-scale retail to traditional retail and HoReCa. Through DIF Network, producers can manage shipments using shared operating standards, traceability and temperature control, with greater visibility throughout the logistics process and a focus on product integrity from collection to delivery.

For DIF network partners, Catania provides an additional hub for coordinating collections, transit operations and distribution to and from Sicily. Sharing freight flows, operational capacity and information through common tools and procedures helps network partners coordinate their activities, plan operations and maintain service continuity. The hub also extends the reach of individual partners, enabling them to serve customers beyond their usual operating areas by drawing on the network’s infrastructure and expertise.

For Sicilian food transport companies, the project opens up new opportunities for collaboration and growth. Joining the network gives companies access to nationwide transport connections, shared standards and tools for managing shipments, with support from DIF’s regional and operations teams. Companies can reach new markets and build commercial relationships without necessarily having to invest in new premises, vehicles or staff, while retaining their independence and drawing on their knowledge of the local market.

Bringing together producers, infrastructure and local expertise reflects the vision that Antonio Cuozzo, Director of DIF Network, shared at the opening.

“DIF connects producers with Italy’s food logistics and transport companies.”

The new Catania hub puts this vision into practice through a shared facility that connects the needs of food producers with the operational capacity of transport companies, strengthening national coordination, local distribution and service continuity across the supply chain.

A More Integrated Distribution Model

With the addition of Catania, DIF Network now has five national and regional hubs, with the new facility joining those in Piacenza, Bologna, Caserta, Verona.

The opening is part of DIF’s wider effort to integrate food distribution by bringing together logistics infrastructure, transport operators and local expertise.

The partnership with Geotrans shows how DIF can grow by drawing on the resources of its network partners, creating new opportunities for companies within the network and across the food and beverage sector.

The network grows through collaboration, with a shared goal of protecting the value of food products throughout the distribution chain.