Food Logistics' 2018 Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers

There is no denying the crucial role third-party logistics (3PLs) and cold storage providers play in the global food supply chain, which increasingly includes temp-controlled products. Food Logistics’ annual Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers features those who are doing their part to ensure an integrated and safe global food supply chain. The list is a valuable resource for transportation decision-makers, giving them a glimpse into the capabilities of these companies and the geographic regions they serve.

Track and Trace in the Food Supply Chain

The companies on this year’s Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers list continue to improve their expertise and keep up with the latest temperature monitoring technologies, transportation management systems and warehouse management systems. Their capabilities are as diverse as the customers they serve, from small local producers to global food manufacturers—all of whom have specific requirements. 

The Warehouse Manager’s Handbook

To view the complete list of recipients and their capabilities, please click here. The following are expanded profiles of select companies on this year's list. To view a slideshow of the selected companies click here.

View previous years' lists:

2017 Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers
2016 Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers
2015 Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers

2014 Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers

A.N. Deringer

Location: St. Albans, Vermont

Website: www.anderinger.com

Year Founded: 1919

Number of Employees: 551

Area Served: International

Asset/Non Asset: Both

Worth Noting: As the fifth largest privately-held customs brokers in North America, Deringer provides integrated supply chain solutions including customs brokerage, international freight forwarding, warehousing and distribution. Its USDA meat inspection facilities facilitate the smooth flow of imported and exported shipments. Deringer’s Trade Advisory Group also provides FDA food facility registration and agency support.

Americold

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Website: www.americold.com

Year Founded: 1903

Number of Employees: 11,000

Area Served: International

Asset/Non Asset: Asset

Worth Noting: Americold’s services are controlled by the customer through its online portal, i-3PL. Control of customers’ supply chain is right in their palm of their hand with any smart device, creating powerful analytics for critical decision making.

Burris Logistics

Location: Milford, Delaware

Website: www.burrislogistics.com

Year Founded: 1925

Number of Employees: 1,676

Area Served: National

Asset/Non-Asset: Both

Worth Noting: Serving as a high-quality provider of customized perishable, multi-temperature supply chain solutions, Burris Logistics prides themselves on its ability to learn from customers and the industries they serve to collaborate on to provide the best solutions for their supply chain needs.

Choptank Transport

Location: Preston, Maryland

Website: www.choptanktransport.com

Year Founded: 2000

Number of Employees: 285

Area Served: International

Asset/Non-Asset: Non-asset

Worth Noting: Choptank Transport’s differentiators are attributed to investments made in the company’s technology and employee training, winning three training awards in the last year. The company continues to see phenomenal growth due to its excelling service, market knowledge and strong relationships with its shippers and carriers. Choptank is dedicated to customer satisfaction and is adopting the latest technologies to have a well-trained workforce.

DSC Logistics

Location: Des Plaines, Illinois

Website: www.dsclogistics.com

Year Founded: 1960

Number of Employees: 3,300

Area Served: North America

Asset/Non-Asset: Both

Worth Noting: With over 55 years of experience in the food and CPG industries, DSC Logistics transforms supply chain management into a critical business strategy. The company manages rigorous food safety processes for all of its food customers and has experience working with distribution networks for major grocery stores.

DSW Distribution Centers Inc.

Location: Rancho Cucamonga, California

Website: www.dswdist.com

Year Founded: 1973

Number of Employees: 70

Area(s) Served: National

Asset/ Non-Asset: Asset

Worth Noting: As a multi-temperature and multi-licensed warehousing and distribution company, DSW Distribution Centers specializes in food and pharmaceutical supply chain services. DSW is SQF Level 2 GFSI and NOP Organic Certified and holds two CA-ABC Alcoholic Beverage Licenses. The company provides value-added services and utilizes a live web-based IT and WMS that is available at all times.

East Coast Warehouse & Distribution

Location: Elizabeth, New Jersey

Website: www.eastcoastwarehouse.com

Year Founded: 1954

Number of Employees: 300

Area Served: National

Asset/Non Asset: Both

Worth Noting: East Coast Warehouse & Distribution is a preeminent provider of integrated temperature controlled logistics services to the food and beverage industry. Its state of the art Safe Quality Food-certified facilities are strategically located on the port of New York/New Jersey and in Philadelphia, creating seamless end-to-end solutions by expediting US Customs and Border protection exams. The company offers a comprehensive approach, strong corporate values and commitment to customer service.

FST Logistics

Location: Columbus, Ohio

Website: www.fstlogistics.com

Year Founded: 1991

Number of Employees: 400

Area Served: National

Asset/Non Asset: Both

Worth Noting: FST Logistics boasts as being a “one stop shop” for established and high growth food brands. Its asset based temperature controlled LTL/TL services and warehouse services are best in class.

FW Logistics

Location: Centreville, Illinois

Website: www.fwlogistics.com

Year Founded: 1949

Number of Employees: 250

Area Served: National

Asset/Non-Asset: Asset

Worth Noting: FW Logistics believes that in order to have a successful business, you need to start having open communication with your partners. With that mindset, the company has been able to flex space, trucking and people to help business partners in e-commerce, fulfillment and manufacturing to meet their logistics goals. To FW, business partners are like family, and like any other family, the company strives to make sure that everyone succeeds.

H&M Bay Inc.

Location: Federalsburg, Maryland

Website: www.hmbayinc.com

Year Founded: 1982

Number of Employees: 555

Area Served: National

Asset/Non-Asset: Non-asset

Worth Noting: H&M Bay is the premier logistics provider for LTL refrigerated and frozen commodities. Consolidation centers strategically located nationwide, along with a host of web-based systems for ordering and tracking help customers manage all of their shipping needs.

Hanover Logistics

Location: Hanover, Pennsylvania

Website: www.hanoverlogistics.com

Year Founded: 1955

Number of Employees: 150

Area Served: National

Asset/Non-Asset: Both

Worth Noting: Hanover is dedicated to the highest level of customer service. Being located in South Central Pennsylvania allows its customers to reach the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions with next day service and has a growing e-commerce operation to fulfill the growing demand of the industry.

Jarrett Logistics Systems

Location: Orrville, Ohio

Website: www.jarrettlogistics.com

Year Founded: 1999

Number of Employees: 127

Area Served: North America

Asset/Non-Asset: Both

Worth Noting: Jarrett Logistics Systems helps customers in the food and beverage, consumer packaged goods and retail industries optimize their supply chains and reduce charge-backs by holding their LTL carriers to the same standard as their Full TL carriers.

Johanson Transportation Service

Location: Fresno, California

Website: www.johansontrans.com

Year Founded: 1971

Number of Employees: 88

Area Served: International

Asset/Non Asset: Non-asset

Worth Noting: Johanson Transportation Service has a $3 million credit score with the highest 4X rating, positioning it to serve the food and beverage industry with the utmost confidence. Customers receive plenty of value-added services along with our quick responsiveness to their issues, such as technology and guidance in how they can adapt their freight planning amidst new regulations and a tight capacity market.

Kane is Able

Location: Scranton, Pennsylvania

Website: www.kaneisable.com

Year Founded: 1930

Number of Employees: 1,021

Area Served: National

Asset/Non Asset: Both

Worth Noting: Kane is Able specializes in making retail supply chain more efficient by taking the time to understand its customers’ unique situations and goals. The company helps mid-market brands adapt to constant changes in product demand business requirements, and develops a close, collaborative working relationship that results in a customized logistics solution.

Keller Logistics Group

Location: Defiance, Ohio

Website: www.kellerlogistics.com

Year Founded: 1978

Number of Employees: 435

Area Served: National

Asset/Non Asset: Both

Worth Noting: An industry recognized asset-based third-party logistics provider, Keller Logistics Group presents a strategic, closed loop logistic solution from maker to market. With four decades of logistics expertise, the company practices a small company culture mixed with large corporate capabilities.

Kenco

Location: Cattanooga, Tennessee

Website: www.kencogroup.com

Year Founded: 1950

Number of Employees: 3,100

Area Served: North America

Asset/Non-Asset: Both

Worth Noting: Kenco’s integrated logistics platform focuses on commitment to service and cultural alignment while providing vertically integrated and engineered solutions with its partners. The company is capable of fulfilling diversity requirements. Kenco is the largest woman-owned 3PL company in the US.

KTI LTD

Location: Pulaski, Virginia

Website: www.ktiltd.com

Year Founded: 1995

Number of Employees: 49

Area Served: National

Asset/Non-Asset: Both

Worth Noting: As a family owned business, KTI has been providing first-class service to its customers for the last 23 years. KTI has 2 SQF Certified food grade warehouses located in Pulaski, Virginia. The company also provides food grade plastics grinding and pelletizing services for food packaging manufacturers.

Matson Logistics

Location: Concord, California

Website: www.matsonlogistics.com

Year Founded: 1882

Number of Employees: 500

Area Served: International

Asset/Non-Asset: Both

Worth Noting: Matson Logistics offers nationwide freight transportation using its integrated ocean, road and rail networks. The company provides inventory receiving, management and distribution services, and all facilities are FDA registered and Organic Food Certified.

Metro Park Warehouses

Location: Kansas City, Missouri

Website: www.mpwus.com

Year Founded: 1970

Number of Employees: 175

Area Served: US Region

Asset/Non-Asset: Asset

Worth Noting: As an asset-based 3PL, Metro Park Warehouses has grown by providing consistent service and lower transportation costs for customer outbound shipments.

Penske Logistics

Location: Reading, Pennsylvania

Website: www.penskelogistics.com

Year Founded: 1969

Number of Employees: 18,011

Area Served: International

Asset/Non-Asset: Both

Worth Noting: Penske prides itself on the ability to strengthen its full range of logistics services to meet its customers’ changing needs. The company make their customers’ jobs easier by understanding business challenges so that it can bring its real-world solutions to life. Penske has decades worth of experience and is able to bring top-notch solutions to customers around the world.

Port Jersey Logistics

Location: Cranbury, New Jersey

Website: www.portjersey.com

Year Founded: 1954

Number of Employees: 225

Area Served: National

Asset/Non-Asset: Both

Worth Noting: Port Jersey Logistics operates two divisions that focus on transportation management and warehouse solutions. Each division services the packaged food and food ingredients industries by combining advanced systems, compliance knowledge and industry experience.

Prime Distribution Services

Location: Plainfield, Indiana

Website: www.prime3pl.com

Year Founded: 1990

Number of Employees: 500

Area Served: International

Asset/Non-Asset: Non-asset

Worth Noting: Prime Distribution Services is a complete 3PL supply chain management resource, delivering innovative solutions to maximize your delivery compliance. The company provides international and asset-backed domestic freight management services to help with your logistics needs. Using the latest technology in its facilities, Prime Distribution Services aims to meet the most demanding retail supply chain logistics challenges while improving OTIF and OSCA.

RLS Logistics

Location: Newfield, New Jersey

Website: www.rlslogistics.com

Year Founded: 1998

Number of Employees: 275

Area Served: North America

Asset/Non Asset: Both

Worth Noting: RLS Logistics opened its fifth logistics center in Salt Lake City in 2017. The new location bolsters temperature controlled direct-to-consumer fulfillment operations by reaching 99 percent of the population with three-day ground shipping. The company continues to add service offerings to its clients, creating value within its operations.

Romark Logistics

Location: Westfield, New Jersey

Website: www.romarklogistics.com

Year Founded: 1954

Number of Employees: 800

Area Served: National

Asset/Non-Asset: Both

Worth Noting: Since 1954, Romark Logistics has been a pioneer in the supply chain and logistics sectors. The company has established itself as a premier 3PL logistics company that is people driven and results focused. Living by their tagline, “Personalized services… Always,” is what drives Romark to create better and more flexible solutions for its customers with proven results.

The Shippers Group

Location: Dallas, Texas

Website: www.shipperswarehouse.com

Year Founded: 1901

Number of Employees: 1,300

Area Served: U.S. Region

Asset/Non-Asset: Asset

Worth Noting: As a leading green supply chain partner, The Shippers Group provides contract packaging services and improves supply chain efficiency for customers. The company employs innovative technologies to improve productivity using layer pickers and voice pick technologies, while continuous improvement initiatives help drive quality to exceed customer’s key operating metrics. 

Star Distribution Systems Inc.

Location: Plant City, Florida

Website: www.stardistribution.us

Year Founded: 1892

Number of Employees: 325

Area Served: US Region

Asset/Non Asset: Both

Worth Noting: For over 70 years, Star Distribution Systems has been recognized as Florida’s premiere 3PL provider. The company has an unrelenting goal of providing its customers with the highest level of customer service, coupled with its logistic services every day. Specializing in LTL freight consolidation, Star Distribution Systems makes more than 800 deliveries a day and can streamline supply chains by integrating a full-service logistics solution.

Sunset Transportation

Location: Sunset Transportation

Website: www.sunsettrans.com

Year Founded: 1989

Number of Employees: 100

Area Served: International

Asset/Non-Asset: Non-Asset

Worth Noting: Sunset Transportation’s acquisition of Snowland Freight Services brought the company into seven additional states. Sunset is committed to long-term growth, customer-centric values and personalized, agile services.

Traffix

Location: Milton, Ontario

Website: www.traffix.com

Year Founded: 1979

Number of Employees: 220

Area Served: North America

Asset/Non-Asset: Both

Worth Noting: With over 35 years of servicing the food and beverage industry, Traffix has developed an understanding of the important of moving products throughout its clients’ supply chains. The company’s network of customers across North America allows it to have many continuous moves, reducing delays and expensive front haul costs. Traffix’s ability to communicate effectively and react to cargo that is time sensitive, providing customers with visibility that makes it a reliable and trusted partner.

Transervice Logistics Inc.

Location: Lake Success, New York

Website: www.transervice.com

Year Founded: 1969

Number of Employees: 1,200

Area Served: North America

Asset/Non-Asset: Both

Worth Noting: Transervice Logistics provides contract maintenance, full-service leasing and logistics services to fortune 500 companies. Its “full disclosure and gainshare” philosophy is awarded in the industry, establishing many strategic partnerships for over 20 years.

Transportation Insight

Location: Hickroy, North Carolina

Website: www.transportationinsight.com

Year Founded: 1999

Number of Employees: 510

Area Served: North America

Asset/Non-Asset: Non-asset

Worth Noting: Transportation Insight’s approach leverages multi-modal insight and industry expertise to engineer technology driven strategies that optimize the end-to-end supply chain. Robust technologies such as TMS, WMS and interactive supply chain analytics power customized solutions to augment carrier network alignment, process improvement, cost reduction and risk mitigation. The company is an expertise multiplier helping clients align their supply chains with strategic business goals to create long-term value and increase profitability.

VersaCold Logistics Services

Location: Vaughan, Ontario

Website: www.versacold.com

Year Founded: 1946

Number of Employees: 2,084

Area Served: North America

Asset/Non-Asset: Both

Worth Noting: VersaCold is a food-first company. As one of North America’s largest cold supply chain networks, it is dedicated to ensuring the safety, quality and freshness of the food consumers eat. With 65 years of logistics experiences, the company collaborates with partners to maintain cold chain integrity and deliver customized solutions to complex challenges.

Worley Warehousing Inc.

Location: Cedar Rapids, IA

Website: www.worleycompanies.com

Year Founded: 1977

Number of Employees: 195

Area Served: North America

Asset/Non Asset: Both

Worth Noting: Worley Warehousing has an advantage while being located in Iowa. The company provides clients the ability to rapidly respond to market demands and seasonal fluctuations. Worley’s culture reflects the value it brings to clients by being a resource and not just a service provider. The company’s facilities are maintained to Food Grade standards and are registered with the FDA, while its operating practices are CTPAT compliant and are certified organic.

WSI (Warehouse Specialists LLC)

Location: Appleton, WI

Website: www.wsinc.com

Year Founded: 1966

Number of Employees: 1,200

Area Served: North America

Asset/Non-Asset: Both

Worth Noting: To WSI, reliability is everything. With that simple promise, the company has helped its customers for over 50 years succeed with integrated third-party logistics. WSI delivers tailored, end-to-end supply chain solutions designed to maximize operational efficiency, ensuring reliable performance and minimize costs.

To view the featured profiles in slideshow format, please click here.