2013's Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers for the Food & Beverage Industry

The food and beverage market is highly-competitive and is currently facing growing customer demands for fresh produce and increasing regulation. Against a backdrop of economic uncertainty, many manufacturers have been forced to make savings wherever possible, whilst remaining compliant with the latest regulations and offering a quality customer-centric product to the end user.

Safe and secure storage and transportation is of the upmost importance and many products on the market require temperature-controlled facilities or equipment. In this fast-paced market a good logistics provider or cold chain service provider can be a key differentiator in the success of a company.

Last week Food Logistics announced their top list of 100 third-party logistics providers and cold storage operators in the food and beverage industry based on their performance in the field. According to Lara L. Sowinski, of Food Logistics the companies honored are those that, "offer tremendous value to their customers in the food and beverage sector, starting with their understanding of the requirements and demands unique to this space."

She said: "This year’s list reflects the growing diversity of 3PLs and cold storage providers operating in the food supply chain, who are adapting to changing demands from their customers and end consumers alike. Food safety and security is one such demand, as are energy efficiency and controlling costs."

"Whether the 3PL or cold storage provider is a small, specialized player or one with international reach and resources, the companies we’ve included for 2013 share a commitment to providing measureable value and industry expertise to their customers," Sowinski commented.

Here Cold Chain IQ take a closer look at some of the best-in-class supply chain providers in the food and beverage sector:

Load Delivered Logistics, LLC, Chicago, IL

Number of employees: 57
Areas served: National (entire U.S)/ North America (U.S., Canada and Mexico)

Load Delivered Logistics, LLC, is a technology-enabled third-party logistics firm setting the pace in a highly competitive and dynamic industry. Founded in 2008, Load Delivered has built an impressive portfolio of customers ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small distribution networks, with experience in virtually every industry. Operating out of offices in Chicago’s "Silicon Prairie" technology corridor and Los Angeles’ "Silicon Beach", Load Delivered Logistics has a reputation for outstanding customer service and enabling companies to streamline their supply chains in a more efficient, reliable and cost-effective way. www.loaddelivered.com

"It is a great honor to be named a Top 3PL by Food Logistics," stated Robert Nathan, CEO of Load Delivered Logistics. "From bottled beverage manufacturers to fresh produce wholesalers to food retailers, our primary goal is to provide excellent service and customized solutions that exceed our customers’ expectations, and this accolade is indicative of our success in doing so."

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Burris Logistics, Milford, DE

Number of employees: 1722
Areas served: National (entire U.S)

Burris has a story tracing back to 1925 when John W. Burris and his father, Edward, worked together shipping tomatoes from the Delmarva Peninsula into Philadelphia. On the return trip, they carried Acme Markets’ bread to its Delmarva region stores. Throughout its 88-year history, Burris has branched into food-service redistribution, public refrigerated warehousing and custom and retail specialty work.

"The Burris family’s commitment to exceptional customer service goes back five generations. Carrying the torch passed by my father, Bob Burris our company promise of "Integrity delivered" will remain an integral part of everything we do today—and in all the years to come. You have my personal guarantee." - Donnie Burris, CEO
www.burrislogistics.com

RLS Logistics, Newfield, NJ

Number of employees: 160
Areas served: National (entire U.S)

RLS Logistics is one of the region's leading temperature-controlled logistics providers offering superior transportation, warehousing, packaging and distribution services. Customers include refrigerated and frozen food processors, importers and marketers, food service distributors, supermarket chains and shopping clubs. Unlike some third party logistics providers, RLS has assets in the form of real estate, modern facilities, and a company-owned fleet. With a professional logistics management team and experienced support staff, RLS has the flexibility to create and implement customized supply chain strategies to meet your specific requirements and enhance your profitability.www.rlslogistics.com

Kenco, Chattanooga, TN

Number of employees: 200
Areas served: North America (U.S., Canada and Mexico)

Kenco provides integrated logistics solutions that include value-added distribution and fulfillment, public warehousing, comprehensive transportation management, material handling services, real estate management and supply chain intelligence—all engineered for operational excellence. The Kenco Family of Companies includes Kenco Logistic Services, Kenco Transportation, Kenco Toyota-Lift, Kenco Management Services and JDK Real Estate.

For over 60 years, Kenco has built lasting customer relationships because it is the 3PL that listens, learns and adapts. Privately-held and financially strong, Kenco’s focus is on common sense solutions that drive uncommon value. www.kencogroup.com/

"Kenco is thrilled to receive this honor once again," said David Caines, President of Kenco Logistics Services and Kenco Transportation ."It brings us true joy to be recognized for our hard work in the food, beverage and cold storage industry."

Trinity Logistics, Seaford, DE

Number of employees: 200
Areas served: North America (U.S., Canada and Mexico)/ International

Trinity Logistics provides transportation arrangement and logistics services for companies shipping dry food, refrigerated/frozen food, food packaging supplies, and more. www.trinitylogistics.com

"We’re honored to be chosen for this year’s list of Top 100 3PL Providers," Jeff Banning, Trinity’s CEO & President, shared. "Shippers in the food industry have always made up a significant portion of our customer base, and the expertise and relationships our Trinity team members have built over the years in this niche have enabled us to serve our food industry customers with the highest levels of customer service."

Choptank Transport, Preston, MD

Number of employees: 150
Areas served: North America (U.S., Canada and Mexico)

Choptank Transport is a 3-PL or third-party logistics company specializing in truckload freight, refrigerated transport and frozen freight. They also offer dry van, flatbed trucking, Refrigerated LTL freight shipping, intermodal and warehousing services. www.choptanktransport.com

Geoff Turner, President and CEO of Choptank Transport said: "We are honored to be included in this year’s list of Top 100 3PLs," said Turner. "The dedication and experience of our employees have helped us carve both basic and specialized services to help our customers in their distribution needs. Our ever growing list of services and investments in technology, especially in the refrigerated marketplace, has been a large driver in our growth."

Transportation Insight

Number of employees: 223
Areas served: North America (U.S., Canada and Mexico)/ International

Transportation Insight is a global lead logistics provider with more than $1.4 billion in supply chain spend under management. For over a decade, the 3PL has partnered with hundreds of manufacturers, distributors and retailers to achieve significant cost savings, reduce cycle times and improve customer satisfaction rates by providing customized supply chain solutions. Transportation Insight offers a Co-managed Logistics™ form of 3PL, carrier sourcing, freight bill audit and payment services, state-of-the-art transportation management system (TMS) applications, and business intelligence. Its logistics services include domestic transportation, international transportation, warehouse sourcing, LEAN consulting and supply chain sourcing of indirect materials. www.transportationinsight.com

"Transportation Insight has earned a reputation for providing best-in-class logistics services to many highly-respected companies in the food and beverage industry," said Transportation Insight Founder and Chairman Paul Thompson. "Our logisticians understand the strict delivery requirements that food manufacturers and distributors face every day. We help our clients in this intensely competitive space bring dollars back to their bottom line in light of volatile ingredient prices. We are honored to be recognized among the top 3PLs serving the food and beverage industry."

For the full list go to: http://foodlogistics.epubxp.com/i/151974

They include, in alphabetical order:

Acme Distribution Centers, Inc.
Americold
Atlanta Bonded Warehouse
Badger Farm Rail LLC
Bolingbrook Cold Storage
Britton & Company
Burris Logistics
C.H. Robinson
Cardinal Logistics Management Corporation
Cargo Service Center India ( Pvt.) Ltd.
CaseStack
Castlecool
CBT, Inc.
Choptank Transport
Classic Transportation & Warehousing
Cloverleaf Cold Storage
Cold Storage Solutions
Columbian Logistics Network
Coyote Logistics
Crowley/Crowley Fresh
CRST Logistics Inc.
DB Schenker
DSC Logistics
England Logistics
Flagship Logistics Group
Frialsa Frigorificos
FST Logistics
Great Lakes Cold Storage
H & M Bay Inc.
Hall’s Warehouse Corp.
Hanover Logistics
Hanson Logistics
Hellmann Perishable Logistics
Henningsen Cold Storage
Inmar
Interstate Cold Storage, Inc.
Interstate Transport
Interstate Warehousing
J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.
Jarrett Logistics Systems, Inc.
JTS (Johanson Transportation Service)
Kane Is Able
Kenco
KTI, LTD.
L&M Transportation Services, Inc.
Lily Transportation Corp.
Lineage Logistics
Load Delivered Logistics
Matson Logistics Inc.
Metro Park Warehouses
MHW Group (Cryo-Trans div.)
Midwest Refrigerated Services
Millard Refrigerated Services
Murphy Warehouse Company
Newport-St. Paul Cold Storage Co.
NFI
Nor-Am Cold Storage
Nordic Cold Storage
Nova Cold Storage
ODW Logistics
PenserSC, A Suddath Company
Penske Logistics
Port Jersey Logistics
Preferred Freezer Services
R.W. Bozel Transfer, Inc., dba Bozel Persishable logistics
Re Transportation, Inc. (ReTrans)
RLS Logistics
RMX Global Logistics
RTL Services, Inc.
Ruan Transportation Management Systems
RWI Transportation LLC
Ryder Supply Chain Solutions
Saddle Creek Logistics Services
Scotlynn USA Division Inc.
Seaonus
Sherway Group
Shippers Warehouse
Sonwil Distribution Center, Inc.
Star Distribution Systems, Inc.
States Logistics
Sunteck Transport Group
Total Quality Logistics
TransCold Distribution
Transplace
Transportation Insight
Transportation One LLC
Trinity Logistics
Triple T Transport, Inc.
Ultra Logistics
United States Cold Storage
US Perishables, Inc.
Verst Group Logistics, Inc.
Wagner Logistics (formerly Wagner Industries)
Wared Logistics
Weber Logistics
Werner Enterprises/Werner Global Logistics
Wheels Group
Witte Bros.
Worley Companies
WSI (Warehouse Specialists, Inc.)

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