Inland Empire secures AIB, Costco certification
Inland Empire Cold Storage (IECS), a family-owned cold storage provider, recently completed the AIB International and Costco GMP audit certification with a score of 925 out of a possible 1000, the company reported.
This score is the highest awarded to a first-time facility in a surprise audit, according to the AIB auditor.
The achievement is a testament to the hard work of newly promoted operations manager Leonela Lopez and warehouse manager Ghenghis Martinez. Leonela, who now oversees both IECS and its sister company, Landjet, has been instrumental in ensuring that the facility operates to the highest standards of food safety and efficiency, IECS said. Martinez, who now oversees the day-to-day operations of the IECS warehouse, has played a key role—along with his entire IECS team—in maintaining the standards that led to this certification.
“Our team is incredibly proud of this achievement,” Lopez said in a news release. “This certification means we can now offer storage solutions to a wider range of customers who require AIB and GMP certifications, particularly those working with major retailers like Costco. It also allows us to better support our sister company Landjet in their mission to provide seamless and safe distribution across the region.”
With over 50,000 sq. ft. of state-of-the-art storage facilities, IECS specializes in handling premium products such as imported cheeses, seafood, and frozen goods. This certification reinforces IECS's position as a trusted partner for food manufacturers and distributors in Southern California, especially those requiring compliance with Costco’s stringent supplier standards.
This certification is also an advantage for Landjet, which provides local distribution services for food manufacturers, importers, and suppliers throughout California and the Southwest, specializing in LTL and local deliveries. By leveraging the certified storage solutions offered by IECS, Landjet can now ensure the highest level of food safety and quality control for its clients, further enhancing its local distribution network.
