Food Logistics named Ryder a top third-party logistics and cold storage provider for 2021. The honor marks Ryder’s ninth consecutive year on the list. Each year, the publication’s editorial team and advisory board selects the leading third-party logistics (3PL) providers that demonstrate a commitment to continually improving their operations and meeting their customers’ needs.

“The changing tastes and demands of consumers continue to create complexities for the food and beverage industry, which the pandemic exacerbated,” Steve Sensing, president of global supply chain solutions for Ryder, said. “The sudden swing to e-commerce caught many companies off guard. The lesson learned, of course, is just how critical it is to have a flexible, nimble and agile supply chain. That means diversifying your sales channels and partnering with a 3PL that has the people, assets and technology solutions in place to help you weather marketplace fluctuations.”

Last year, Ryder — which, according to the company, serves nine of the top 10 companies in the food and beverage industry — launched two solutions that have proved critical during the pandemic. First, the company expanded its e-commerce fulfillment solution to include food-grade compliant facilities, which deliver to at least 95% of U.S. consumers in two days or fewer. In addition, Ryder rolled out a real-time visibility and collaborative logistics platform called RyderShare. The technology enables all parties involved in moving goods through a supply chain to see potential problems, take proactive action to course-correct and find efficiency gains.

“3PLs and cold storage providers continue to be the heart and soul of the cold chain. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and other supply chain disruptions, these companies continue to showcase agility, resiliency, strength and innovation,” Marina Mayer, editor-in-chief of Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive, said. “They’ve pivoted in a time of crisis, armed themselves with solutions that matter and protected people and product along the way.”