also more resilient, traceable, and responsive to global customer demands,” Chambers says. Americold has kept pace with globalization by building a network of 239 facilities in 12 countries to orchestrate movement across continents, regulatory systems, and transport modes. To succeed in this environment, companies must go beyond infrastructure and invest in strategic partnerships that enable seamless, multimodal food flow. Americold has embraced this model by building networks of trust and capability across the global cold chain. “Our joint venture with RSA Global in the Middle East, and our partnerships with DP World and CPKC, are designed to integrate cold storage with port and rail infrastructure,” says Mathew Moore, vice president, global market strategy for Americold. “These relationships allow us to deliver faster, more resilient, and more compliant solutions for our customers— especially those navigating cross-border trade and high-value perishables.” Employing a Multi-Faceted Strategy As cold chains extend around the world, the refrigerated shipping industry faces several pressing sustainability
challenges, including high energy consumption, refrigerant emissions, and packaging and food waste. These are compounded by the need to maintain
partnerships not just with customers, but also with infrastructure leaders like CPKC and DP World to deliver end-to-end solutions that scale with their needs.” Genpro: Cold Chain Excellence Built on Deep Relationships For more than three decades, Genpro has quietly shaped the future of cold chain logistics with a unique blend of operational precision, technology integration, and long-term relationship building. As the industry undergoes radical transformation, driven by regulatory pressures, technological advancements, and heightened customer expectations, Genpro’s approach to temperature-controlled freight offers a blueprint for how modern brokerages can lead with both innovation and integrity. Joe Kouten, who recently retired as vice president of sales at Genpro after nearly 40 years in the supply chain industry, has witnessed the evolution of cold chain logistics, embracing technology that can transform a company into a market leader. “While Genpro is a freight brokerage company, not a tech company, we’ve built an automated infrastructure that allows our people to focus on what matters most: servicing our customers and supporting our carriers,” says Kouten. This proactive approach, powered by machine learning and automation, extends across the lifecycle of every shipment. Manual tasks like load acceptance, order entry, pricing, and exception notifications are increasingly automated, allowing teams to focus on higher-level logistics strategy and customer relationships. With a robust integration platform that receives real-time temperature and location data for all shipments, Genpro continues to empower and stay ahead of the curve with continuous monitoring, proactive alerts, and detailed analytics. For Genpro, this isn’t about just meeting expectations; it’s about preventing disruptions before they happen. When a driver receives an alert
strict temperature controls across networks and transport modes. Americold is addressing these
challenges through a multi-pronged strategy, including energy efficiency upgrades to facilities, using renewable energy, refrigerant management, waste reduction, and assessing climate risk. “Americold’s approach is not just about compliance—it’s about leadership,” Chambers says. “By integrating sustainability into its operations, partnerships, and long-term strategy, Americold is helping shape a more resilient and responsible cold chain.” While some providers are outsourcing support, Americold is doubling down on human connection and operational expertise with in-house customer service teams. That balance of technology that protects and people who care is a key differentiator. The goal is to build deep relationships that go beyond a transactional approach. “Our customers rely on us for strategic guidance, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement,” Chambers says. “That’s why we’ve built long-term
Genpro enables cold chain shippers to move products across borders, ports, and distribution centers without compromising freshness, safety, or delivery windows.
48 Inbound Logistics • August 2025
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