RLS Logistics recently welcomed Merchants Cold Storage in Walton, Kentucky, as the latest warehouse partner and member of the RLS network of cold chain solutions providers through its RLS Partners affiliate.
Merchants Cold Storage, a subsidiary of the Castellini Group of Companies, now will be known as RLS Merchants, the companies said. The addition of RLS Merchants provides frozen and refrigerated food manufacturers in the Greater Cincinnati region, Kentucky, Ohio, and other Midwest states access to the RLS network.
“Merchants Cold Storage is excited to be part of RLS, a leader in the cold chain storage and logistics industry,” Phil Castellini, president and regional partner at RLS Merchants, said in a news release. “They were a natural fit for our family business as they share the same values and work ethic toward the best customer service and solutions.
“We look forward to continuing to grow our operations in our market, as well as participate in the growth of the RLS group nationally.”
RLS Merchants, a third-party logistics warehouse, brings over 65 years of cold chain experience and a team of industry veterans, RLS Logistics maintained. A leading cold storage warehouse for frozen and refrigerated foods in the Northern Kentucky area, RLS Merchants offers temperature-controlled warehousing, cross docking, rail services through Norfolk Southern, and other value-added services such as blast freezing.
“I look forward to an exciting new chapter of my career,” said Skip Hawk, vice president and general manager at RLS Merchants. “It is gratifying to have the privilege of continuing day-to-day operations with my warehousing team and customers. In addition, I am most excited about this opportunity to welcome future growth.
“RLS has the same values and sense of urgency that I endorse, which make us a great team.”
RLS Merchants’ addition supports RLS’s focus on becoming a top-tier network of regional, family-owned temperature-controlled warehouse providers.
“Merchants’ commitment to preserving the business for over 70 years and putting customer experience first is a testament to their success,” said Russell Leo, RLS Logistics CEO. “They are an ideal complement to our network of top regional family-run cold storage providers. We look forward to watching RLS Merchants grow for many years to come.”
