To strengthen its transportation and logistics capabilities,Iowa Cold Storage LLC, Altoona, Iowa, said it has formed a collaborative partnership withICS Logistics Corp., a Des Moines, Iowa, refrigerated transportation provider.

Iowa Cold Storage's 200,000-sq.-ft. facility handles commodity, foodservice and retail products for area distribution. Its services include order selection, blast freezing and boxing and defrosting of meat products. ICS Logistics Corp. provides transportation to the United States and Canada and operates 85 late model tractor units and 155 refrigerated trailers.

"Warehousing and logistics are what we do best," said Gary Jones, Iowa Cold Storage managing director; and Chris VanSchapen, ICS Logistics Corp. president.

Added Jones, "Linking both groups will offer our customers integrating warehousing and transportation solutions designed to meet individual customer requirements, reduce costs and increase flexibility in dealing with market conditions and delivery requirements."

"We believe the partnership will permit the ICS Group to deliver exceptional value for customers," said VanSchapen. "Having a strategic warehouse location at the crossroads of America offers us a pronounced opportunity to grow our service offerings."