East Coast Warehouse & Distribution

What East Coast Warehouse & Distribution does

East Coast Warehouse & Distribution is a privately held, temperature-controlled 3PL/4PL logistics provider headquartered on the Port of New York/New Jersey in Elizabeth, New Jersey, with a 65-plus-year operating history and backing from Equity Group Investments (Sam Zell) since January 2022. The company operates nearly 70 million cubic feet of refrigerated and ambient warehouse space across six major U.S. port markets — New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Savannah, Charleston, and (forthcoming) Baytown/Houston — and serves primarily Fortune 500 food and beverage importers across verticals including confectionery, beer/wine/spirits, grocery, soft drinks/water, retail, machinery, life sciences, and plastics & resins. Integrated services are delivered through four core solution lines: warehouse solutions, transportation via wholly-owned Safeway Trucking Corporation (one of the nation's largest container drayage providers), logistics/brokerage via Safeway Logistics Solutions, and Centralized Examination Station customs services via East Coast CES.

The company operates a proprietary technology stack centered on its SNAP inventory management platform, which combines warehouse management (WMS) and transportation management (TMS) functionality, providing 24/7 real-time inventory visibility, RF/RFID/barcode-based transaction processing, EDI integration, and a container management system that interfaces with terminal systems on 15-minute refresh cycles. Supporting the platform are value-added services including co-packing, labeling, cross-docking, devanning, pool consolidation, and final-mile delivery. The company holds SQF, FDA, GDP, SmartWay, ASI, and U.S. Customs bonded certifications, and is the designated Centralized Examination Station provider for U.S. Customs & Border Protection in three markets.

Revenue is generated through a mix of storage and handling fees (warehousing), shipment-based transportation fees (drayage, FTL, LTL, final-mile), customs examination fees (CES), freight brokerage transaction fees, and professional services fees for value-added offerings. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is enterprise-focused B2B field sales targeting food and beverage importers, supported by a 'myECW' self-service portal and a content marketing program (the Simply Logistics Blog). The customer base includes major retailers such as Amazon and Wal-Mart, with an average customer relationship measured in decades rather than quarters.

Name

East Coast Warehouse & Distribution

Legal name

East Coast Warehouse and Distribution Corporation

Website

https://eastcoastwarehouse.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

East Coast Warehouse & Distribution is a privately held, temperature-controlled 3PL/4PL logistics provider operating nearly 70 million cubic feet of refrigerated warehouse space across six major U.S. ports, serving Fortune 500 food and beverage importers with integrated warehousing, drayage, transportation, and customs examination services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Temperature-Controlled Logistics Services

NAICS

Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage (49312), Freight Transportation Arrangement (4885), Couriers and Express Delivery Services (492110)

SIC

Public Warehousing & Storage (4220), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210)

akta.pro primary industry

Reefer Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) & Multi-Stop Distribution (TLADAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Inland Container Depots (ICD) / Inland Ports (TLALAJAB), Refrigerated (Chilled) Freight Forwarding (TLACAMAA), Trade Compliance & Ocean Regulatory Services (Sanctions/Export Controls) (TLACABAL)

Keywords

• Temperature-controlled warehousing
• Cold chain logistics
• Customs examination services
• Container drayage
• Freight brokerage

Headquarters

HQ city

Elizabeth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Warehousing Services: Public, contract, and bulk temperature-controlled warehousing services across 70 million cubic feet of refrigerated warehouse space. Revenue generated through storage fees, handling fees, and value-added services including co-packing, labeling, and cross-docking.
2. Transportation Services: Temperature-controlled trucking services including FTL, LTL, and drayage through Safeway Trucking Corporation fleet. Revenue from transportation fees based on shipment volume and distance.
3. Customs Examination Services (CES): Designated Centralized Examination Station provider for U.S. Customs & Border Protection. Revenue from examination fees and related customs handling services.
4. Freight Brokerage and Logistics Solutions: Transportation management and final mile delivery services through Safeway Logistics Solutions. Provides seamless integration with regional warehousing and transportation footprint through network of strategic service partners and carriers.
5. Value-Added Services: Co-packing, repackaging, kitting, labeling, multi-vendor consolidation, devanning, and quality assurance services for various industry verticals.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

East Coast Warehouse & Distribution operates as a temperature-controlled 3PL/4PL logistics provider offering public, contract, and bulk refrigerated warehousing across nearly 70 million cubic feet of space at port-adjacent facilities. Through its Safeway Trucking Corporation fleet it provides container drayage, FTL, LTL, and final mile delivery, while Safeway Logistics Solutions handles nationwide freight brokerage and transportation management. The company also operates designated U.S. Customs & Border Protection Centralized Examination Stations (CES) in NY/NJ, Philadelphia, and Baltimore.

Product overview

East Coast Warehouse & Distribution is a temperature-controlled 3PL/4PL logistics provider offering an integrated platform of warehousing, transportation, and customs services. The core offering consists of four main solution areas: Warehouse Solutions (refrigerated storage across 70 million cubic feet near major East Coast ports), Transportation Solutions via Safeway Trucking (drayage, FTL/LTL, final mile), Logistics Solutions/Brokerage (nationwide transportation management), and CES Solutions (U.S. Customs examination stations). Supporting the platform is the SNAP inventory management system providing real-time visibility, EDI, and RFID tracking. The company serves multiple industry verticals including Confectionery, Beer/Wine/Spirits, Grocery, Soft Drinks, Retail, Machinery, Life Sciences, and Plastics & Resins.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Warehouse Solutions Public, contract, and bulk refrigerated warehousing services across nearly 70 million cubic feet of temperature-controlled space on or near major U.S. ports (NY/NJ, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Savannah), with controlled temperature zones ranging from 40°F to 65°F plus ambient space. Includes cross-docking, co-packing, labeling, kitting, multi-vendor consolidation, and quality assurance.
• Transportation Solutions (Safeway Trucking Corporation) Temperature-controlled container drayage, FTL (Full Truckload), LTL (Less Than Truckload) shipping, and final mile delivery across the contiguous United States, operated by Safeway Trucking Corporation, one of the nation's largest container drayage providers. Includes fleet-based truckload services and intermodal capabilities.
• Logistics Solutions (Safeway Logistics Solutions) Nationwide transportation management and freight brokerage services providing seamless integration of regional warehousing and transportation footprint through a network of strategic service partners and carriers. Includes final mile delivery and load coordination across the contiguous United States.
• CES Solutions (Customs Examination Services) Designated Centralized Examination Station (CES) provider for U.S. Customs & Border Protection, offering U.S. FDA Inspections, USDA Agricultural Quarantine Inspections, NII and Contraband Enforcement Team exams, and Trade Compliance Exams at locations in NY/NJ, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. East Coast Warehouse has held CES designation for more than 25 years.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,000,000 kWh of renewable energy produced annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Safeway Trucking CorporationcoreOthersSafeway Trucking Corporation is the transportation arm of East Coast Warehouse, providing temperature-controlled truckload (TL), less than truckload (LTL), and drayage transportation services. The company operates one of the nation's largest container drayage fleets and is recognized on Inbound Logistics' Top 100 Truckers list.
• U.S. Customs & Border ProtectioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEast Coast CES has been a trusted partner of U.S. Customs & Border Protection for over 25 years. The company maintains its status as the designated Centralized Examination Station (CES) in several markets including NY/NJ, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, resulting in robust understanding of customs exam processes.
• Georgia Ports AuthorityminorOthersPartnership with Georgia Ports Authority for operations at the Port of Savannah. The port has earned acclaim for its strategic location, modern infrastructure, and commitment to efficiency.
• Port Authority of New York and New JerseyminorOthersStrategic presence on or near the Port of New York/New Jersey where the company is headquartered, handling substantial share of the country's refrigerated imports.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Lineage Logistics: Lineage is the world's largest temperature-controlled warehouse operator and a publicly traded REIT. It directly competes with ECW in refrigerated port-adjacent storage and 3PL services, but at vastly greater scale and with a national/global footprint that ECW is still building toward.
• GXO Logistics: GXO is a large publicly traded contract logistics provider with growing temperature-controlled and food/beverage capabilities. It is a broader incumbent that competes with ECW for enterprise warehousing and integrated logistics contracts across multiple verticals.
• C.H. Robinson Worldwide: C.H. Robinson is a global freight broker and 3PL with significant food and beverage and cold-chain exposure. While not a refrigerated warehouse operator, it overlaps with ECW's Safeway Logistics Solutions brokerage arm and competes for the same enterprise transportation management spend.
• Americold Logistics: Americold is a leading publicly traded cold storage REIT and 3PL with hundreds of facilities globally. It competes directly with ECW in temperature-controlled warehousing, transportation, and food/beverage supply chain services but operates at significantly larger scale and broader geographic reach.

Direct peers

• Burris Logistics: Burris is a Mid-Atlantic-based temperature-controlled 3PL offering refrigerated warehousing, transportation, and value-added services to food, retail, and consumer goods customers. Its Mid-Atlantic port-adjacent footprint and customer mix overlap closely with ECW's traditional core market.
• Hanson Logistics: Hanson Logistics is a Midwest- and East-Coast-focused temperature-controlled 3PL offering warehousing, transportation, and supply chain services to food and beverage customers. It is comparable to ECW as a mid-sized, regionally anchored cold chain provider with similar customer verticals.
• United States Cold Storage: US Cold Storage is a privately held, port-adjacent cold storage operator with a comparable multi-region U.S. footprint and similar F&B-focused customer base. It is one of the closest direct competitors to ECW's core refrigerated warehousing and drayage model.
• Preferred Freezer Services: Preferred Freezer operates large-scale, port-adjacent refrigerated warehouses serving food manufacturers, importers, and retailers across the U.S. Its service model and customer base closely mirror ECW's refrigerated warehousing and value-added offerings.
• Nordic Cold Storage: Nordic operates temperature-controlled warehouses primarily in the Southeastern U.S., overlapping with ECW's Savannah and broader Southeast expansion strategy. Its port-adjacent cold storage model and food/beverage customer focus position it as a regional direct peer.

Emerging players

• NewCold Advanced Cold Logistics: NewCold is a fast-growing, technology-driven automated cold storage operator with large facilities in the U.S. (including near the Port of Savannah). It represents an emerging competitor combining scale and automation in markets where ECW is also expanding, with partial overlap in customer type and service model.

Market position

Strengths6 records

Weaknesses6 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/eastcoastwarehouse
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/442667

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about East Coast Warehouse & Distribution