How Did the (Frozen) Chicken Cross the Road? ...With Help from Redwood, of course!

Just about every day it seems like there’s a new product recall, often involving temperature-controlled products. Following on the heels of the massive Boar’s Head product recall of 7 million pounds of deli meats, BrucePac has just recalled 10 million pounds of ready-to-eat meats and poultry products that were distributed to retail giants Target, Walmart, and Amazon, as well as grocers and food service customers. From frozen pasta and fresh produce to fruit juice, food safety issues are in the spotlight almost daily, affecting millions of consumers. 

Although it’s only October, there have been 740 total food and beverage recalls in the United States. That number has more than doubled since 2023, which saw 313 recalls, which is likely to triple the 289 recalls in 2022 by the time we reach the end of the year. 

It's clear that cold chain shippers bear an enormous responsibility to minimize the many sources of food contamination and temperature abuse as they store and deliver products. They need to maintain proper temperatures, utilize safe handling, and correct cleaning procedures. They should also apply strict quality control, security protocols, and otherwise ensure that both customers and end consumers can trust them from first mile to last. 

More than food products are at risk. From vaccines to aerospace resins, a wide range of products require a variety of storage temperatures and other special handling requirements. Each temperature-controlled product demands the correct delivery schedule, shipping mode, carrier, and refrigeration and temperature monitoring technology. 

The question to be asked is: how can shippers of temperature-controlled products accomplish this level of extreme diligence when they’re also faced with rising freight costs and tight deadlines? In today’s volatile, disrupted supply chain landscape, is it possible to balance uncompromising cold chain quality control with profitability, delivery speed and reliability, sustainability, and other priorities? 

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask the Tough Questions 

These are just some of the urgent questions discussed in Redwood’s new report, called “As Cold Chain Complexity Heats Up, Choose Your Logistics Partner Carefully.” Our report highlights the critical importance of partnering with a proven 4PL that understands through experience the challenges of cold chain logistics at a deep level. Redwood can provide the custom-tailored services cold chain shippers need, an investment that just makes good business sense.  

As the report discusses in more detail, the right logistics partner will be ready to provide:

• Innovative and reliable equipment that’s well-maintained and ideally suited to the cold chain task at hand, from fresh produce to deep freeze
• Real time tracking and monitoring to maximize visibility so shippers can avoid delays, disruptions, standing time, and product damage or theft
• Advanced digital tools to ensure all logistics processes from picking and packing to load building and route mapping. All are managed with quality control and safety in mind 
• Contingency plans and backup resources to prevent inevitable disruptions from compromising product temperature, quality, and safety 

If your logistics partner lacks any of these resources or is reluctant to have an open discussion about sanitation procedures, equipment maintenance, or other specifics, then it’s time to find a 4PL that lives and breathes cold chain every day. 

Combining Safety, Speed, and Cost: Redwood Delivers   

With so much at stake, including your brand reputation, your customer relationships, and consumer loyalty: Why trust just any logistics provider with your critical cold chain shipments? With over $5.5 billion in freight under management, a significant percentage of which is temperature controlled, Redwood has the expertise, capabilities, and experience you need to confidently outsource your cold chain logistics. In fact, we moved over 110,000 cold chain loads in 2023.  

Whether you need supply chain advisory, freight brokerage, hands-on transportation execution, managed distribution, or digitalization and systems integration, Redwood enables you to “chill out” and focus on your core business. We’ll help get your frozen chicken, mangoes, ice cream, or pharmaceuticals safely across the road. Contact Redwood and put your temperature control concerns in our hands.