RLS Logistics is building an 83,000-square-foot cold storage facility in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, set to open Q1 of 2022. The facility will provide frozen and refrigerated food manufacturers, distributors, processors, and importers in the Springfield and Boston region with public cold storage warehouse capacity relief and access to RLS' temperature controlled less than truckload shipping programs.

"It has been over 20 years since a public 3PL warehouse has opened in the New England region," said Bryan Hedge, President and Regional Partner, RLS Complete. "We offer a complete solution to customers from our state of the art building, technology platform, and transportation services, including our Walmart transportation logistics."

The warehouse will boast 18,000 pallet positions for refrigerated and frozen foods with the support of their mobile racking system. The mobile racking system allows the cooler warehouse to hold 40%-45% more pallet positions than the standard double deep racking. The facility will also use an environmentally friendly refrigeration system that consumes less electricity than traditional ammonia-based systems, reinforcing the company’s sustainability initiatives. 

"With all of the acquisitions we have seen in the past few years, coupled with tight capacity, the addition of RLS Complete will give refrigerated and frozen food customers more choices to work with a strong family run cold chain storage company that has a national footprint.  Additionally, we bring a lot of experience and knowledge for customers looking for fully integrated cold chain solutions for warehousing and transportation," said John Gaudet, Vice President, Business Development, RLS Logistics.

The cold storage warehouse will offer multiple temperature zones and value added services, including blast freezing, USDA reinspection, EDI capabilities, food transportation, and distribution. Customers can expect world-class food safety processes as part of RLS' efforts to gain BRCGS certification at RLS Complete. "Our facilities uphold the stringent guidelines of BRCGS. This benefits customers by lessening their risk and protecting their brand," said Gaudet.

BRCGS certification for storage and distribution is an internationally recognized accolade awarded to companies that meet BRC Standards of best practice for quality, hygiene, and product safety. BRCGS is one of the most highly regarded certification programs identified by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI). To attain certification, the cold storage warehouse receives a third-party audit of everything from quality management and risk analysis to building standards and vehicle operations.

Tippmann Innovation (Ti) will be leading the cold storage warehouse construction.

About RLS Partners

Headquartered in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, RLS Partners is a joint venture formed by seasoned industry acquisition professionals, capital resources, and an industry leading family owned cold chain 3PL- RLS Logistics.  By creating a network of best-in-class cold chain operators, RLS will offer its customers a top-tier regional platform with national scale supported by service levels only a family-operated company can provide.