Meet the Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers of 2020
The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has shined a special light on the supply chain – particularly the food supply chain.
In a survey by HelloFresh, seven in 10 Americans said that the pandemic will change the way they shop for their groceries. Sixty-four percent of respondents have reportedly used grocery delivery services, while 55% have tried a meal kit delivery service. Meanwhile, more companies are partnering with 3PLs to help ensure their products get delivered on time.
For example, RJW Logistics saw a 26% jump in functional beverage business alone after the pandemic began in the United States, prompting the company to hire nearly 100 employees in just one week.
“As we’re all adjusting to this New Normal, it can be difficult to find a new way to fulfill all of your grocery shopping needs,” says Claudia Sidoti, principal chef and head of recipe development at HelloFresh.
With 40% consumers relying on online grocery and stockpiling goods more than ever, there has been an increased need for cold storage and third-party logistics (3PL) services.
According to an April CBRE report, an additional 75-100 million square feet of cold storage space will be needed to meet the demand of online grocery sales over the next five years. The pandemic will only accelerate the need for space as e-commerce grocery will become more widely adopted and consumers grow more comfortable with the ordering process.
“Until recently, consumers were not ordering a lot of perishables online, but that will likely change in a post-COVID-19 environment,” says Matthew Walaszek, associate director of industrial and logistics research for CBRE. “Now, we are seeing consumers trend toward buying foods online such as frozen meats and poultry. To meet this new demand, we will need more temperature-controlled space.”
With the year 2020 proving to be nothing like anyone imagined, 3PL and cold storage providers have reminded us as to why they are an essential part of the cold food and beverage supply chain. These companies help manage the cold chain and are crucial to protecting and meeting the demands of supply chains at a time where there are many uncertainties.
Each company on Food Logistics’ Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers of 2020 list is a standout in its own way. Despite all that 2020 has thrown at them, these providers continue to improve their skills and adopt the latest temperature monitoring technologies, transportation management systems (TMS) and warehouse management systems (WMS). Moving and storing temperature-sensitive goods requires a commitment to improving operations in order to meet customers’ needs, and these companies continue to do so.
Food Logistics is proud to announce its annual Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers of 2020 award in a new layout that better highlights the services each 3PL and cold storage provider offers. This annual list provides a directory of providers that summarizes their capabilities and can be used as a resource for logistics decision-markers for a potential solution.
Their capabilities are as diverse as the customers they serve, from small local producers to global food manufacturers—all of whom have specific requirements. Here's a list of companies included in our Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers of 2020 award. To view the complete list of winners and their services, please click here.
