What Midwest Refrigerated Services does

Midwest Refrigerated Services (MRS) is a privately held, family-owned third-party logistics (3PL) provider headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, specializing in temperature-controlled warehousing and refrigerated transportation for the food industry. Founded in 2008 by Mike Pokel (whose family has operated in cold storage since 1930), the company operates 11 facilities across Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa, totaling more than 1.5 million square feet of warehouse space and 15.9 million cubic feet of temperature-controlled capacity. MRS runs what it describes as the largest fresh and frozen 48-state LTL consolidation pool in the Midwest, anchored by an Allenton, Wisconsin cross-dock, and ships over 200 full loads weekly across the continental United States.

The company's service portfolio spans four pillars: LTL pool consolidation and refrigerated/frozen truckload transportation; dedicated transportation programs including just-in-time shuttles and finished goods distribution; multi-state cold storage warehousing (Wisconsin 897,000 sq ft, Illinois 454,000 sq ft, Iowa 307,000 sq ft) with ambient and temperature-controlled zones; and value-added services such as e-commerce fulfillment, kitting and club store repack, retail display assembly, specialty cheese multi-temperature aging, and labeling. Underlying technology includes a Körber-integrated Warehouse Management System with marketplace and shopping cart connectivity, custom transportation and financial dashboards, and barcode/scanning traceability at the central cross-dock. Layer picking technology is deployed at the Belvidere LAC facility. MRS holds 28 consecutive BRCGS AA certifications and is FDA-approved at the Yorkville facility.

The business model is sales-led and direct, with custom quote-based pricing, multi-year enterprise contracts, and a mix of recurring storage fees (per pallet/area), transaction-based transportation fees, and managed-service VAS revenue. Customer concentration centers on food manufacturers, dairy producers (notably a dedicated Lactalis USA hub opened in Belvidere in February 2025), specialty cheesemakers, and food service operators across retail and consumer channels. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Midwest Refrigerated Services

Legal name

Midwest Refrigerated Services, Inc.

Website

https://midwestrefrigerated.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Midwest Refrigerated Services is a family-owned, full-service refrigerated 3PL providing temperature-controlled warehousing, LTL consolidation, dedicated transportation, and value-added services to food manufacturers, dairy producers (including Lactalis USA), specialty cheesemakers, and food service operators across the Midwest and all 48 U.S. states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cold Chain Logistics and Refrigerated Warehousing Services

NAICS

Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage (493120), Transportation and Warehousing (48-49), Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage (49312)

SIC

Public Warehousing & Storage (4220), Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Food & Beverage Cold Storage (Fresh/Chilled) (TLALABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Temperature-Controlled Cross-Docking & Transload (Cold Chain) (TLALABAJ), Refrigerated / Temperature-Controlled Freight Brokerage (TLADAMAH), Public Refrigerated Warehousing (Multi-Client) (AFAOAFAA)

Keywords

• Refrigerated warehousing services
• Cold chain logistics
• Frozen food distribution
• LTL consolidation services
• Third-party logistics

Headquarters

HQ city

Elkhorn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 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 and Cold Storage: Temperature-controlled and ambient warehouse storage services across Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa locations. Over 1,500,000+ square feet of warehouse space. Revenue generated through storage fees, typically per pallet or square footage basis.
2. Transportation and Logistics Services: Refrigerated and frozen LTL and TL transportation services. Includes LTL pool consolidation (shared space model), dedicated transportation, and cross-docking services. Over 200 full loads shipped weekly across 48 states.
3. Value-Added Services: E-commerce fulfillment, kitting and club store repack, retail display assembly, date coding, case erection, labeling, specialty cheese program, and other packaging/fulfillment services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Midwest Refrigerated Services is a full-service 3PL provider for the food industry, offering temperature-controlled warehousing and refrigerated transportation across the Midwest. The company operates 11 facilities spanning 1,500,000+ square feet in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa, combined with a 48-state LTL and TL freight consolidation network centered on the Allenton, WI cross-dock. Complementary offerings include cross-docking, value-added services (kitting, club store repack, e-commerce fulfillment, retail display assembly, specialty cheese aging), and dedicated transportation programs.

Product overview

Midwest Refrigerated Services (MRS) operates as a full-service third-party logistics (3PL) provider specializing in refrigerated transportation and cold storage for the food industry. The company offers an integrated network of transportation and warehousing services: LTL Pool Consolidation (refrigerated and frozen freight consolidation across 48 states), Logistics (FTL truckload capacity), Dedicated Transportation (custom shuttle programs), and Cross-Docking & Redelivery. The warehousing portfolio spans three states with Wisconsin Warehousing (897,000+ sq ft), Illinois Warehousing (454,000+ sq ft), and Iowa Warehousing (307,000+ sq ft) across 11 locations. Value-Added Services include e-Commerce fulfillment, retail display assembly, kitting & club store repack, and specialty cheese programs. The company operates a fleet of Freightliner Cascadia, Volvo VNL, and International LT625 tractors for transportation services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LTL Pool Consolidation Refrigerated and frozen freight consolidation program specializing in Less-Than-Truckload order consolidation and delivery across 48 states, with over 200 full loads shipped weekly through the Allenton, WI central cross-dock. Designed for shippers needing cost-efficient shared-truck refrigerated/frozen LTL.
• Logistics (Full Truckload Transportation) Asset-based logistics services providing refrigerated and frozen full-truckload (FTL) capacity using company drivers, owner-operators, and a third-party carrier network for shipments across 48 states.
• Dedicated Transportation Bespoke shuttle programs for storing raw materials and providing just-in-time delivery to production plants, including finished goods transportation from manufacturing facilities to warehouses. Designed for customers requiring consistent, dedicated equipment and routing.
• Cross-Docking & Redelivery Cross-dock services for pre-picked orders with flexible pickup from facilities or around-the-clock receiving, utilizing a strategic Midwest pool point for deliveries across the continental United States.
• Wisconsin Warehousing Temperature-controlled and ambient warehouse storage with over 897,000 square feet of space across multiple Wisconsin facilities including Milwaukee, Allenton, Pleasant Prairie, Madison, Beloit, and Weyauwega locations.
• Illinois Warehousing Temperature-controlled and ambient warehouse storage with over 454,000 square feet of space across Yorkville and Belvidere, Illinois facilities including the Belvidere LAC distribution center opened in February 2025.
• Iowa Warehousing Temperature-controlled and ambient warehouse storage with over 307,000 square feet of space across Cedar Rapids, Iowa locations (Prairie Valley Court and Edgewood).
• Value-Added Services Comprehensive value-added services including e-commerce fulfillment with 99.997% accuracy, retail display assembly, kitting and club store repack, specialty cheese aging program, packaging optimization, date coding, case erection, labeling, and inventory management. Designed for food industry customers needing turnkey 3PL support beyond storage and transport.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.997% accuracy in e-commerce fulfillment
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lactalis USAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2025MRS opened a 200,000 sq ft regional distribution center in Belvidere, IL in partnership with Lactalis USA. The facility optimizes Lactalis USA's Midwest logistics network, receiving product from ten Lactalis production facilities across the U.S. and European imports. It operates as a central hub servicing all Lactalis customers in the region with over 36,000 pallet positions.
• Consolidated Construction CompanycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 22 February 2024Consolidated Construction Company (Appleton, WI) served as the design-build contractor for the 200,000 sq ft Belvidere LAC facility. MRS has worked with Consolidated for over 30 years. The firm handled architectural/engineering design services, construction management, and project delivery for the 83-acre site.
• International Refrigerated Transportation Association (IRTA)minorOthersMRS is a member of the International Refrigerated Transportation Association.
• National Frozen and Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA)minorOthersMRS is a member of the National Frozen and Refrigerated Foods Association.
• Global Cold Chain AllianceminorOthersMRS is a member of the Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA), which includes the International Association of Refrigerated Warehouses (IARW). MRS was ranked 22nd on the GCCA North American Top 25 List.
• Wisconsin Cheese Makers AssociationminorOthersMRS is a member of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, supporting its specialty cheese program with multi-temperature aging rooms.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Lineage Logistics: The world's largest temperature-controlled warehousing and logistics company, operating a global network of automated and conventional cold storage facilities. Direct competitor to MRS in refrigerated 3PL services for the food industry across the U.S.
• Burris Logistics: Mid-Atlantic-based refrigerated warehousing and logistics provider offering cold storage, transportation, and value-added services. Comparable regional 3PL serving the food industry with similar service mix to MRS.
• Henningsen Cold Storage: Family-owned refrigerated warehousing and logistics company with Pacific Northwest and national operations. Comparable mid-sized peer competing in food-industry cold storage and distribution.
• Zero Mountain: Privately-held refrigerated warehousing and logistics provider headquartered in Arkansas. Comparable mid-sized cold storage 3PL serving food customers across the central and southern U.S.
• Interstate Warehousing: Refrigerated and frozen public warehousing and 3PL provider serving food manufacturers and retailers across the Midwest and U.S. Overlaps with MRS in temperature-controlled storage, transportation, and value-added services.
• United States Cold Storage: Major U.S. refrigerated warehousing and logistics provider serving food manufacturers, retailers, and foodservice operators. Directly comparable to MRS in multi-temperature storage, transportation, and value-added services.
• Americold Logistics: Public global leader in temperature-controlled warehousing and logistics with a large North American footprint. Competes directly with MRS on food-industry cold storage, transportation, and value-added services.

Emerging players

• NewCold Advanced Cold Logistics: European-headquartered automated cold storage operator with expanding North American footprint. Represents the next-generation, automation-led model that traditional peers like MRS may need to match over time.

Regional players

• Congebec: Canadian refrigerated warehousing and logistics provider serving food manufacturers and retailers. Comparable mid-sized cold chain 3PL but primarily operates in Canada rather than directly in MRS's U.S. Midwest footprint.
• VersaCold Logistics Services: Canada-based temperature-controlled supply chain provider with food-industry focus. Comparable in service mix (cold storage, transportation, VAS) but geographically focused on Canada with limited direct U.S. Midwest overlap with MRS.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/midwest-refrigerated-services

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Midwest Refrigerated Services