LOGISTICS BRIEFS

Preferred Freezer Services, Elizabeth, N.J., said its newest, fully automated cold storage facility in Chicago earnedLEED Gold certificationfrom the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED provides third-party verification that a building was designed and built using strategies to improve performance across metrics such as: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, stewardship of resources and sensitivity to resources impacts.

Preferred Freezer opened the Chicago II operation last September. The site has 8 million cubic feet of freezer capacity, 2.3 million cubic feet of cooler capacity, blast freezer capacity of 1,200 positions and a 25,200-square-foot loading and unloading dock.


For the fourth time in five years,RLS Logisticsoperations have earned a "Superior" rating in a third-party audit by theAmerican Institute of Baking. Auditors reviewed RLS Logistics' operational methods and personnel practices, maintenance for food fafety, cleaning practices, integrated pest management and adequacy of prerequisite and food safety programs.

Said Jim Green, RLS director of operations, “The ‘superior’ performance rating from the independent AIB audit validates the quality improvement programs we implemented a number of years ago. We are committed to being the No. 1 logistics supplier. By that I mean, we are not interested in being the biggest --  but the best.

"Earning that position means evaluating every aspect of your operations and then implementing changes that will continue to improve the operations and services," he continued. "The AIB audit was a rigorous test of our operations and represented a new set of eyes on our procedures."

RLS Logistics, Malaga, N.J., serves refrigerated and frozen food processors, importers and marketers, foodservice distributors, supermarket chains and shopping clubs. The company operates warehouses in Malaga and Vineland, N.J., as well as Pittston, Pa. It also operates a dedicated refrigerated fleet.