There’s good news for transporters of temperature-controlled food and beverages: the number of top third party logistics and cold storage providers keeps growing. In reading about the top providers’ capabilities in Food Logistics’ annual list in the next several pages, there is even better news: their expertise in food and beverage handling keeps improving, year after year.
Third-party logistics and cold storage providers play an important role in today’s challenging cold supply chain. To help logistics professionals know who they can turn to for help in temperature-controlled transport issues, Food Logistics offers its annual Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers, an up-to-date list of providers and a summary of their capabilities. This list provides a handy resource to transportation decision makers, giving them a snapshot of the capabilities of these companies and the geographic region(s) they serve.
The fact that the Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers list grows every year speaks to the companies’ improving expertise. The providers are keeping up with the latest temperature monitoring technologies, transportation management systems and warehouse management systems, among others. Their capabilities have become as diverse as the customers they serve—from small local producers to global food manufacturers—all of whom have unique requirements.
This year’s list has familiar names and newcomers. The alphabetized profiles contain basic information, while details on each company’s service offerings are provided on the accompanying graphs.
Company: Allen Lund Company, La Canada, Calif.
Web site: www.allenlund.com
Year founded: 1976
Number of employees: 390+
Area(s) served: North America (U.S., Canada and Mexico)
Asset/Non-asset: Non-asset
Worth noting: Allen Lund Company received the TIA 3PL Good Samaritan Award for 2011, the 2013 “Best in Cargo Security Award,” and was placed in Transport Topics’ “2013 Top 25 Freight Brokerage Firms.” In 2014, the company earned a spot on the Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100. Allen Lund Company managed over 288,000 shipments in 2013.
Company: Alliance Shippers, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
Web site: www.alliance.com
Year founded: 1977
Number of employees: 500
Area(s) served: North America, International
Asset/Non-asset: Both
Worth noting: Alliance Shippers Inc. offers worldwide transportation and logistics services via rail, highway, air and waterborn carriage, all managed by the company’s Perfect Shipment® Program, a process for providing on-time delivery for customers shipments. The company’s web page is updated monthly for current actual performance.
Company: Americold, Atlanta, Ga.
Web site: www.americold.com
Year founded: 1903
Number of employees: 12,000
Area(s) served: International
Asset/Non-asset: Asset
Worth noting: Americold owns and operates 177 temperature-controlled warehouses in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, China, Argentina, and Canada. The cold storage network includes a total capacity of over 1.1 billion cubic feet of storage. The warehouses are an integral part of the supply chain connecting food producers, processors, distributors, and retailers to the end consumer. The company provides a web-based performance management system (i-3PL) to track inventory. Americold provides customers with supply chain optimization studies to ensure distribution points of presence fully minimize transportation costs.
Company: C.H. Robinson, Eden Prairie, Minn.
Web site: www.chrobinson.com
Year founded: 1905
Number of employees: 11,703
Area(s) served: International
Asset/Non-asset: Non-asset
Worth noting: In 2013, C.H. Robinson executed approximately 12.7 million shipments for more than 46,000 active customers and 63,000 contract carriers. The company received the Top Supplier, Collaboration and Service Award from Brookshire Grocery Company in 2013 and was named the #1 Best Place to Work for large companies by the Minneapolis/Saint Paul Business Journal.
Company: CaseStack, Santa Monica, Calif.
Web site: www.casestack.com
Year founded: 1999
Number of employees: 200+
Area(s) served: North America (U.S., Canada, and Mexico)
Asset/Non-asset: Non-asset
Worth noting: Thousands of suppliers turn to CaseStack for innovative consolidation programs, efficient warehousing systems and streamlined transportation management, all of which are centered on the company’s proprietary, real-time inventory and order technology. This enables customers to realize cost savings and achieve the performance levels of their larger competitors for less investment.
Company: Cold Storage Solutions, North Las Vegas, Nev.
Web site: www.coldstoragesolutions.com
Year founded: 2012
Number of employees: 10
Area(s) served: Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas and surrounding areas
Asset/Non-asset: Both
Worth noting: Cold Storage Solutions offers customers “Cold Storage Simplified.” The company offers more than 165,087 square feet of cold and dry storage. Cold Storage Solutions features online order entry, cloud storage of data and online temperature monitoring in real time. The company serves Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas and surrounding areas.
Columbia Colstor, Inc., Kennewick, Wash.
Web site: www.colstor.com
Year founded: 1983
Number of employees: 467
Area(s) served: U.S.
Asset/Non-asset: Both
Worth noting: The McGraw family has been in the logistics industry for over 80 years. The company’s international, intermodal warehouse has more than 220,000 square feet of temperature-controlled loading and storage space. Columbia Colstor offers domestic and international shippers an alternative intermodal transshipment and cross-docking operation located in a convenient, highly efficient and cost effective inland port.
Company: Columbian Logistics Network, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Web site: www.columbianlogistics.com
Year founded: 1896
Number of employees: 260
Area(s) served: U.S.
Asset/Non-asset: Both
Worth noting: Columbian Logistics Network earned the Michigan Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) award from the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration(MIOSHA) for an exemplary safety and health management system. The company is SQF certified, and its facilities are OTCO Organic Certified.
Company: Crowley Maritime, Jacksonville, Fla.
Web site: www.crowley.com
Year founded: 1892
Number of employees: 5,300+
Area(s) served: North America (U.S., Canada and Mexico), International
Asset/Non-asset: Both
Worth noting: A total of 75 Crowley Maritime vessels have received the Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA)’s annual Jones F. Devlin Awards in recognition of their outstanding safety records in 2013.
Company: DB Schenker, Freeport, N.Y.
Web site: www.dbschenker.com
Year founded: 1947 U.S. and Canada; 1800s in Germany
Number of employees: 6,000 U.S., 91,000+ worldwide
Area(s) served: International
Asset/Non-asset: Non-asset
Worth noting: DB Schenker has received Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) certification at its Vancouver airport office. The company has also received AIB International certification. One of the company’s food warehouse facilities has been recognized for its Integrated Pest Management practices.
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Company: DSC Logistics, Des Plaines, Ill. |
Web site: www.dsclogistics.com
Year founded: 1960
Number of employees: 2,500
Area(s) served: North America (U.S., Canada and Mexico)
Asset/Non-asset: Both
Worth noting: DSC Logistics has more than 50 years’ experience in the food and consumer packaged goods industries. DSC Logistics is a certified woman-owned business, and is named annually as a Top 3PL and Top Green Supply Chain Partner by multiple trade journals. DSC’s CEO Ann Drake was the first female recipient of Council of Supply Management Professional’s Distinguished Service Award in 2012.
DSW Distribution Centers, Inc., Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Web site: www.dswdist.com
Year founded: 1973
Number of employees: 50 to 75
Area(s) served: U.S., International
Asset/Non-asset: Asset
Worth noting: DSW Distribution Centers, Inc. is a 41-year-old, family-owned, third party logistics provider offering a wide array of value-added services with specialized licensing and multiple temperatures for the food, pharma/bio tech, beverage and consumer packaged goods industries.
First American Carriers Inc. & International Traders, Inc., Rocky Mount, N.C.
Web site: www.ITI-TAC.com
Year founded: 2004
Number of employees: 80
Area(s) served: U.S. region
Asset or Non-asset: Non-asset
Worth noting: Together, First American Carriers, Inc. (FAC) and International Traders, Inc. (ITI) are a comprehensive supply chain solutions and total logistics organization with a core competency and expertise in the retail and foodservice segments of the food industry. The suite of services are anchored in five key value components designed to deliver highly reliable and affordably flexible solutions across our customer landscape.
Company: Flagship Logistics Group, Indianapolis, Ind.
Web site: www.flagshipfoodgroup.com/Logistics
Year founded: 1991
Number of employees: 108
Area(s) served: U.S.
Asset/Non-asset: Non-asset
Worth noting: Flagship Logistics Group has built a state-of-the-art customer contact center in Indianapolis, IN. that exceeds ADA handicap standards with one goal in mind: to hire civilians, veterans and active duty personnel, disabled or not, to staff the customer care center. This year, the parent company, Flagship Food Group, donated $100,000 to the Wounded Warriors Program and partnered with Hiring Our Heroes, a program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to help veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses find meaningful employment.
Company: Frialsa Frigorificos, Huixquilucan, Estado de México
Web site: www.frialsa.com.mx
Year founded: 1983
Number of employees: 1,300
Area(s) served: North America (U.S., Canada and Mexico)
Asset/Non-asset: Both
Worth noting: Frialsa has been awarded for being pioneer in wind-powered pitch roll wrists (PRWs), pluvial water recovery systems, paperless operations and high-efficiency LED lighting.
Company: Great Lakes Cold Storage, Solon, Ohio
Web site: www.glcsinc.com
Year founded: 1999
Number of employees: 55
Area(s) served: U.S.
Asset/Non-asset: Non-asset
Worth noting: Great Lakes Cold Storage provides storage and distribution for supermarket, food service and industrial customers and manages seasonal pick, commodities and ingredients. With multiple facilities, Great Lakes Cold Storage has 8.6 million cubic feet of modern freezer/refrigerated space for frozen and refrigerated warehousing and distribution.
Company: H & M Bay, Inc., Federalsburg, Md.
Web site: www.hmbayinc.com
Year founded: 1982
Number of employees: 427
Area(s) served: U.S.
Asset/Non-asset: Non-asset
Worth noting: H&M Bay is a logistics provider for LTL refrigerated and frozen commodities. Consolidation centers are strategically located nationwide, along with a host of web-based systems for ordering, tracking and helping customers manage all their shipping needs.
Company: Hellmann Perishable Logistics, Doral, Fla.
Web site: www.hellmann.net
Year founded: 1871
Number of employees: 12,000
Area(s) served: International
Asset/Non-asset: Both
Worth noting: Hellmmann Perishable Logistics provides temperature-controlled, time-sensitive freight, dry and flatbed 3PL and asset-based transportation for the country’s largest shippers in the foodservice, grocery, retail, big-box and construction industries.
Company: Henningsen Cold Storage Co., Hillsboro, Ore.
Web site: www.henningsen.com
Year founded: 1923
Number of employees: 297
Area(s) served: North America (U.S., Canada and Mexico), International
Asset/Non-asset: Both
Worth noting: Henningsen Cold Storage Co. is one of the largest public refrigerated warehousing companies in the U.S., with 11 facilities in six states providing more than 53 million cubic feet of temperature controlled storage. Henningsen is a fourth generation, family-owned corporation with roots dating to 1923.
Company: JTS (Johanson Transportation Service), Fresno, Calif.
Web site: www.johansontrans.com
Year founded: 1971
Number of employees: 86
Area(s) served: North America (U.S., Canada, and Mexico), International
Asset/Non-asset: Non-asset
Worth noting: JTS received the 2013 Fresno Better Business Bureau Ethics Award for Marketplace Excellence for its commitment to ethical business practices in operations and for the manner in which it serves staff and customers.
Company: Kenco Logistics Services, Chattanooga, Tenn.
Web site: www.kencogroup.com
Year founded: 1950
Number of employees: 3,800
Area(s) served: North America (U.S., Canada, and Mexico)
Asset/Non-asset: Both
Worth noting: Kenco is the largest woman-owned 3PL in the U.S. and its Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) certification gives the company a unique market niche by helping to fulfill its clients’ diversity goals.
Company: Lineage Logistics, Colton, Calif.
Web site: www.lineagelogistics.com
Year founded: 2007
Number of employees: 4,500+
Area(s) served: U.S.
Asset/Non-asset: Asset
Worth noting: Lineage Logistics completed the acquisition of Loop Cold Storage, Oneida Cold Storage and Millard Refrigerated. With these three acquisitions, Lineage Logistics expands its national cold storage footprint to over 544 million cubic feet and a facility network of 102 facilities in 21 states.
Company: Load Delivered Logistics, LLC, Chicago, Ill.
Web site: www.loaddelivered.com
Year founded: 2008
Number of employees: 83
Area(s) served: North America (U.S., Canada and Mexico)
Asset/Non-asset: Non-asset
Worth noting: Load Delivered Logistics is a two-time recipient of the Inc. 500 Award and was recently named one of the top 10 fastest-growing companies in Chicago by Crain's “Fast Fifty.” The company is adding 60 employees and 24,000 square feet of office space while maintaining a commitment to research and development, including its proprietary, temperature-controlled software.
Company: Matson Logistics Inc., Concord, Calif.
Web site: www.matson.com
Year founded: 1987
Number of employees: 297
Area(s) served: North America (U.S., Canada and Mexico)
Asset/Non-asset: Both
Worth noting: Matson Logistics provides a fully-integrated suite of warehousing and distribution, land transportation and ocean transportation services across North America, Hawaii, and Guam. Matson was recognized with two “Quest for Quality” awards in 2013 for outstanding service.
Company: McKay Transcold, Edina, Minn.
Web site: www.mckaytranscold.com
Year founded: 2012
Number of employees: 30
Area(s) served: U.S.
Asset/Non-asset: Non-asset
Worth noting: Based in Edina, Minn., the company has facilities in Selma, Calif. and Wilmington, Ill. that are connected by a weekly refrigerated boxcar service moving up to 200 truckloads in each direction.
Company: Metro Park Warehouses, Kansas City, Mo.
Web site: www.mpwus.com
Year founded: 1970
Number of employees: 175
Area(s) served: U.S.
Asset/Non-asset: Asset
Worth noting: Metro Park Warehouses is a multi-year U.S. Regional Distribution Center of the Year Award Winner and an asset-based 3PL, offering AIB superior warehousing with trucking, including: multi-vendor consolidation; inventory purchase and transportation management; licensed medical, pharma and alcohol distribution; and call center services from seven modern flexible public and dedicated contract facilities in Kansas City.
Company: Midwest Refrigerated Services, Milwaukee, Wis.
Web site: www.midwestrefrigerated.com
Year founded: 1930 as Plymouth Ice and Coal
Number of employees: 150
Area(s) served: U.S.
Asset/Non-asset: Both
Worth noting: Midwest Refrigerated Services is one of the largest fresh/frozen, 48-state LTL consolidation pools in the upper Midwest with more than 75 trucks. As part of a single-source solution, the company offers multiple sites with freezer and cooler storage, distribution and cross-dock services.
Company: Penske Logistics, Reading, Pa.
Web site: www.penskelogistics.com
Year founded: 1969
Number of employees: 10,000
Area(s) served: North America (U.S., Canada and Mexico), International
Asset/Non-asset: Both
Worth noting: Penske Logistics is a recipient of the 2013 SmartWay Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The company was highlighted as an industry leader in freight supply chain performance energy and efficiency. Penske earned this award in part for reducing its annual carbon dioxide emissions by 25 percent, nitrous oxide emissions by 40 percent and particulate matter emissions by over 50 percent.
Company: Port Jersey Logistics, Monroe, N.J.
Web site: www.portjersey.com
Year founded: 1954
Number of employees: 160
Area(s) served: U.S.
Asset/Non-asset: Non-asset
Worth noting: Port Jersey Logistics offers six decades of experience providing warehousing, transportation and value-added services to the consumer-packaged goods, specialty foods, food ingredients, health and personal care products, and alcoholic beverages industries. All facilities offer state-of-the-art systems and are AIB audited, organic certified and FDA registered.
Company: Railex LLC, Riverhead, N.Y.
Web site: www.railex.com
Year founded: 2004
Number of employees: 600
Area(s) served: North America (U.S., Canada and Mexico)
Asset/Non-asset: Asset
Worth noting: The Railex distribution platform utilizes a hybrid system of coast-to-coast expedited rail, consolidation/deconsolidation centers, and short-haul trucks to deliver goods into the hands of consumers quickly, efficiently, and cost-effectively, with a greatly reduced carbon footprint.
Company: Re Transportation, Inc., Memphis, Tenn.
Web site: www.re-trans.com
Year founded: 2002
Number of employees: 400
Area(s) served: North America (U.S., Canada and Mexico)
Asset/Non-asset: Non-Asset
Worth noting: ReTrans offers a niche retail food distribution solution called "Reach." Reach leverages ReTrans' proprietary technology, expertise, and carrier relationships to customize food distribution solutions that reduce cost, broaden customers' marketplace and improve delivery metrics.
Company: RLS Logistics, Newfield, N.J.
Web site: www.rlslogistics.com
Year founded: 1952
Number of employees: 180
Area(s) served: U.S.
Asset/Non-asset: Both
Worth noting: RLS is a third-generation, family-owned and operated business. At the same time, clients have access to the technology, knowledge, solutions, and food defense systems that a national provider offers.
Company: Ryder System, Inc., Miami, Fla.
Web site: www.ryder.com
Year founded: 1933
Number of employees: 29,000
Area(s) served: North America (U.S., Canada and Mexico)
Asset/Non-asset: Both
Worth noting: Ryder works with nine of the 10 the top food and beverage companies in the U.S. Thousands of customers rely on Ryder’s experience in transportation and logistics. The company offers a network of maintenance facilities with expert refrigeration technicians and warehousing space.
Company: Star Distribution Systems, Inc., Plant City, Fla.
Web site: www.stardistribution.us
Year founded: 1931
Number of employees: 225
Area(s) served: U.S.
Asset/Non-asset: Both
Worth noting: Star Distribution Systems sees itself as a company of people, committed to providing customers the highest level of customer service and logistics solutions in the country. The company provides over 70 consumer packaged goods manufactures a consolidated warehousing and transportation solution.
Company: Transportation Insight, Hickory, N.C.
Web site: www.transportationinsight.com
Year founded: 1999
Number of employees: 300
Area(s) served: North America (U.S., Canada and Mexico), International
Asset/Non-asset: Non-asset based
Worth noting: Transportation Insight delivers bundled enterprise, end-to-end logistics solutions. Services include carrier sourcing, TMS, freight bill audit and payment services, supply chain analytics, reporting and big data solutions with interactive analytical tools, warehousing and LEAN consulting.
Company: United States Cold Storage, Voorhees, N.J.
Web site: www.uscold.com
Year founded: 1889
Number of employees: 2,000+
Area(s) served: U.S.
Asset/Non-asset: Asset
Worth noting: United States Cold Storage is a PRW leader with 215 million cubic feet of storage at 35 locations nationwide. The company strives for “best-in-class” standards for customer service, personnel, operations and technologies dedicated to efficient warehousing and logistics with real-time information.
Company: Wagner Logistics, Kansas City, Mo.
Web site: www.wagnerlogistics.com
Year founded: 1946
Number of employees: 350
Area(s) served: U.S.
Asset/Non-asset: Both
Worth noting: Wagner Logistics offers “top tier” technology and a strong industrial engineering department. The company combines high-tech supply chain management with high-touch product pampering.
Company: Worley Companies. Exchange, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Web site: www.worleycompanies.com
Year founded: 1978
Number of employees: 300
Area(s) served: U.S.
Asset/Non-asset: Both
Worth noting: Worley Companies is ideally located in the heart of several Midwest logistics clusters. For 35 years, Worley has developed long-term relationships with Fortune 100 and 500 companies. Worley values safety, quality and productivity.
Company: WSI (Warehouse Specialists, Inc.), Appleton, Wis.
Web site: www.wsinc.com
Year founded: 1966
Number of employees: 1,100
Area(s) served: U.S.
Asset/Non-asset: Both
Worth noting: For nearly 50 years, WSI has helped customers succeed with reliable, integrated third-party logistics. The company delivers tailored, end-to-end supply chain solutions designed to maximize operational efficiency, ensure reliable performance and minimize costs.
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