FOOD LOGISTICS NAMES 2023 TOP 3PL & COLD STORAGE PROVIDERS ~ DSW, THE BEST IN THE WEST!

Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers Award: E-Commerce Boom Calls for Rise in Outsourcing of Services. This year’s winners are in position to answer the call for that increased demand in outsourcing of services.

Congratulations to the winners of this year’s Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers award.

DSW Distribution Centers, Inc.
Rancho Cucamonga, California

Year Founded: 1973
Number of Employees: 120
Area served: International
Asset/Non-Asset: Asset
Worth Noting: In its 50 years, DSW Distribution Centers continues to offer extensive value-added services in multiple temperature-controlled facilities in Southern California. DSW maintains excellent GFSI SQF scores and is licensed and certified in pharmaceutical, alcohol, organics and specialized packaging.

The past 18 months have been a tumultuous time for U.S. fleets. From Canada-border protests and increased shipping volumes to other kinds of supply chain disruptions, the cold food chain continues to face bottlenecks that require fleets to re-tool and pivot accordingly.

But, it’s the drivers, the fleet, the warehouses and software/technologies that really keep today’s supply chains in line. These third-party logistics (3PL) and cold storage providers have collaborated on all facets of their operations to achieve full visibility, complete forecasting, end-to-end leverage and the ultimate in sustainability.

And our annual Top 3PL & Cold Storage Providers award celebrates those companies making magic happen behind the front lines.
The global 3PL market is expected to reach more than $1.75 trillion by 2026, registering a growth rate of 8% during the period (2021-2026), according to Mordor Intelligence.

The e-commerce boom coupled with advanced technologies and a focus on timely delivery management continue to drive the 3PL market. However, lesser control of manufacturers on logistic service and delivery process may adversely impact 3PLs in the near future.

“Shippers are continuing to leverage what 3PLs offer, allowing them to optimize the supply chain, minimize costs and create value and align expectations as a key to achieving success for both parties. The high-end technology integration by 3PLs, industry expertise and cost reduction are some reasons why outsourcing services are increasing. This outsourcing of services clearly indicates that the demand for 3PLs is on the rise and is driving the market,” the report says. “Mobile technology is revolutionizing 3PL. Many 3PL companies have already begun using mobile devices and apps to improve agility. Devices fitted with radio frequency identification (RFID) chips are not only capable of transmitting their location, but they also have the potential to hold data about themselves so that they can be instantly tracked and identified. Using mobile apps installed on their mobile phones, customers can order, process and track freight shipments at any time.”

And this year’s winners are in position to answer the call for that increased demand in outsourcing of services.
Case in point: This year’s winners manage fleet sizes ranging from zero to 2,000-plus and varying in revenue from $5 million to over $3 billion.

They plan to invest in GPS, automation/robotics, warehouse management systems (WMS) and transportation management systems (TMS), cloud-based solutions, software solutions, drones, track and trace and more.

These 3PLs provide air cargo, customs brokerage, direct-store delivery, freight forwarding, fuel savings programs, intermodal, last-mile, rail/truck transload and more, while the cold storage providers offer blast freezing, cross docking, inventory management, kitting assembly, public refrigerated warehousing, storage and more.

And, they all maintain years of experience and the drive for collaboration and continuous improvement.

Congratulations to DSW!

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