If you look up “cold storage news” on the Internet, you’ll find plenty of articles about an industry growing on the backs of big-box companies and venture capitalists that are consolidating and growing and pushing the industry forward.
It’s good business. Their size and strength allow them to set hard, fast, and rigid rules that help their growth and their bottom line. It’s good business, sure; but it’s typically good business for them.
Here at Adams Cold Storage, we’ve always followed the advice I got a long time ago from a mentor of mine, David Lyons, the founder of Saddle Creek Logistics: “Go where your customers take you.”
There’s a reason we don’t automatically say “No” to customers when they request special consideration of us. We’ve trained our people to think through requests and make every attempt to meet their needs — whatever they are. We go where our customers need us.
For example, we’ve recently extended our load hours and have started a swing shift. Why? Our customers asked for it. It would be easy to say no and to make our customers work within the parameters we set. But I guess that’s what makes us different. We go out of our way to accommodate the companies that may need a little help getting their loads where they need to go. This extra effort builds trust, that trust builds loyalty
Finally, it is with a sad heart that we at ACS note the passing of our Executive Vice President, Bruce Bachman. Bruce had been a longtime friend to me and my family since 1980 and here at Adams Cold Storage since it began in 2010. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Bruce was a builder, a leader and his fingerprints are all over our company. He was directly involved in the management of our 250,000 square foot facility, helping ACS achieve and maintain the highest standards in the industry. He left a lasting legacy for his family, his community, and this company that will be felt for decades to come.