Vertical Cold Storage Surges to Sixth Largest Cold Storage Provider in North America

Vertical Cold Storage, a developer and operator of temperature-controlled distribution centers sponsored by real estate investment firm Platform Ventures, moved from 15th to sixth on the Global Cold Chain Alliance’s (GCCA) North American Top 25 List of Refrigerated Warehousing and Logistics Providers. The company now has more than 77 million cubic feet of capacity in nine locations and employs more than 400 full-time team members.

In the past 12 months, Vertical Cold acquired MWCold in Indiana, purchased a second facility in the...

Lineage Logistics Announces Rebranding, Changes Brand Name to Lineage

Lineage, one of the leading temperature-controlled industrial REIT and logistics solutions providers worldwide, has announced a rebranding, formally changing its brand name from Lineage Logistics to Lineage.

Established in 2012, the Lineage name reflects the company’s unique legacy and expertise in the interconnected world of cold storage and logistics. The company’s shield logo signifies the generational and entrepreneurial commitment of the many companies that have been welcomed into the Lineage family through over 110 acquisitions to form Lineage with the shared charge of keeping the global food supply safe and...

Rerouting Trucks and Ships Away from Baltimore: What Early Data Shows

As the days add up after the March 26 collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, companies that gather data from trucks and supply chains are beginning to get an idea of where trucks are rerouting in the catastrophe’s wake. Data on ship rerouting is less conclusive.

While some of that data is clear, a lot remains murky as shippers and carriers figure out how to loosen the logistical choke points the collapse created.

One of the clearest data series in the market, because it is fed...

Sheer Logistics Acquires CargoBarn

Sheer Logistics, a premier provider of 4PL/Managed Transportation Services, value-based logistics, freight brokerage, TMS technology and Integration Platform as a Service (IPaaS) solutions purpose-built for mid-market companies, today announced the acquisition of CargoBarn, a tech-enabled third-party logistics provider (3PL) based in Atlanta, GA. CargoBarn provides full Truckload freight brokerage, expedited, drayage, and other specialized services. The acquisition will enhance Sheer's existing 3PL and freight brokerage offerings through the addition of CargoBarn's diverse and complementary customer portfolio, extensive carrier network, highly experienced sales and operations teams, and geographic footprint...

Europe Looking Towards Air Freight Solutions Due To Continuing Attacks in Red Sea 

As Houthi terrorists continue to attack in the Red Sea, shipping and logistics companies also continue to provide updates on what the developments mean for cargo.

U.S. Central Command confirmed on March 12 that between 2 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. Sanaa time, Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists “fired one close-range ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward USS Laboon in the Red Sea.” The U.S. government agency revealed that the missile did not impact the vessel, and that there...

CJ Logistics America to Open New Cold Storage Warehouse in Georgia

CJ Logistics America will be opening a brand new, state-of-the-art cold storage warehouse in Gainesville, Georgia. This development project is being led by RL Cold, a leader in the cold storage development industry. The 270,000 square foot building will feature Alta EXPERT Refrigeration Systems and QFM blast freezing, the latest evolution in QuickFreeze technology.

“Our customers have come to expect a seamless experience at every step of the supply chain,” said CJ Logistics America CEO Kevin Coleman. “This new warehouse, coupled with our integrated transportation...

United Natural Foods Expands Supply Chain Evolution with A.I.-Powered Warehouse Automation System

United Natural Foods, Inc. (NYSE: UNFI) (the “Company” or “UNFI”) today announced plans to implement an A.I.-powered robotic automation system in its soon-to-be-completed distribution center (DC), in Manchester, PA. This advanced system, manufactured by Symbotic, is the second installation for UNFI and part of the Company’s commitment to further enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of its distribution center network. Once installed, UNFI expects the system to enhance the customer experience, improve quality and service to customers, increase capacity within its facilities, and lower...

Maersk Says All Vessels Due to Transit the Red Sea Will Be Diverted For ‘Foreseeable Future’

Despite warnings from the U.S. and other countries to cease attacks, the Houthi rebels show no signs of stopping. Shipping company Maersk says that as the situation continues to evolve and “remains highly volatile,” they have made the decision to divert all Maersk vessels that are due to transit the Red Sea/ Gulf of Aden for “the foreseeable future.” Vessels that were due to travel through the Red Sea will continue to be diverted south around the Cape of Good Hope.

“We understand...

Hapag-Lloyd Continuing to Explore Solutions As Attacks on Red Sea Vessels Continue

Hapag-Lloyd is just one of the shipping and container transportation companies dealing with the fallout of the ongoing Houthi rebel attacks in the Red Sea. The German company confirmed earlier this week that they would be diverting its vessels away from the Suez Canal/ Red Sea until at least January 9. Now the company has released a new update, confirming that they are continuing to avoid the Red Sea route “for the safety of our crew and cargo.”

As SeafoodNews previously reported...

Maersk Pauses All Transit Through the Red Sea/ Gulf of Aden Following Attack on Vessel

Logistics company Maersk announced on Tuesday that they will be pausing all transit through the Red Sea/ Gulf of Aden “until further notice.” The decision follows an attack on the company’s vessel, the Maersk Hangzhou, which occurred on December 30.

“An investigation into the incident is ongoing and we will continue to pause all cargo movement through the area while we further assess the constantly evolving situation,” the company said in a statement today. “In cases where it makes most sense for our customers...

US-led Forces in Red Sea will be Defensive ‘Highway Patrol’

The longer container lines detour from the Red Sea around the Cape of Good Hope, the more vessel capacity will be soaked up, and the higher freight rates will go. Rates are already rebounding. New surcharges just announced by ocean carriers imply freight costs are headed higher still.

Container lines have a perfectly valid reason to avoid going through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait from a corporate governance perspective: They cannot guarantee the safety of their seafarers, ships or cargo due to indiscriminate attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels...

West Coast Port Workers in Canada to Strike Starting July 1 in Blow to Recovering Supply Chain

After a recent landslide vote of union members, the ILWU Canada has served notice it plans to strike at the country’s West Coast ports starting on July 1. The Canadian Labor Code requires three days’ notice to announce a strike. The notice came on Wednesday.

Over 99% of ILWU Canada union workers critical for West Coast port operations, including in Vancouver and Prince Rupert, voted earlier this month in favor of supporting a strike if a labor deal was not reached. The vote...

Quality Custom Distribution Expands Southwest Foodservice Logistics Business 

Frisco, Texas-based Quality Custom Distribution (QCD), a Golden State Foods (GSF) company, has expanded operations in the Southwest U.S. market with two relocations to larger distribution centers in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Las Vegas, as well as a new facility opening this summer in San Antonio, Texas. Servicing nearly 7,500 customer stores in virtually every state, the QCD network will soon encompass 25 total distribution centers, making 35,000 last-mile deliveries weekly to four leading Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) brands.

"As our customers continue to thrive and expand in key U.S...

Bringg and Ubeya Partner to Tackle Workforce Shortages

Bringg, the leading Delivery Management Platform (DMP) provider, today announced a partnership with Ubeya, a Workforce Management Platform specializing in shift-based placements, improving engagement, and increasing worker retention. With the launch of the Independent Driver Network and the partnership with Ubeya, Bringg will now provide retailers and logistics companies with access to an additional workforce for increased delivery capacity, enabled by partners including Workwhile, Point Pickup, Tonquin and Para.

Many of the systems in place that support rapid or flexible delivery capabilities are lagging, and among the most prominent pitfalls...

Ferraro Foods Announces Major Expansion of Long Island Distribution Business

Ferraro Foods, one of the country’s largest specialty distributors of food and foodservice supplies to Italian restaurants and pizzerias, announced a major expansion of its Long Island distribution business with the addition of a 230,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution center located at 80 Wilshire Blvd in Edgewood, N.Y., positioning the company to greatly increase its share of the world’s largest, most concentrated local pizza market.

Situated near several major highways at the geographical center of Long Island, which accounts for the largest sales volume of specialty Italian foods in...