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Our Story
Our Heritage
Midwest Refrigerated Services (MRS) has a rich history dating back to 1930 when the Pokel family founded Plymouth Ice and Coal Company. Initially, Al Pokel’s father cut ice from millponds to supply homeowners' ice boxes, storing the surplus in his warehouse. With the advent of refrigerators, the company transitioned to cold storage for food, particularly dairy products. In 1959, the second generation, Al and Jerry Pokel, expanded and renamed the company Northland Cold Storage, adding five more facilities. In 1989, the business split, and Al Pokel and his son Mike established Geneva Lakes Cold Storage (GLCS) in Darien, WI. By 2008, Mike founded MRS, acquiring Wispak Transport, Inc., and began offering comprehensive 3PL services. Today, MRS continues to grow and innovate, rooted in a legacy of excellence and adaptation.
Comprehensive 3PL Services
Based in Milwaukee, WI, Midwest Refrigerated Services is a full-service 3PL provider specializing in refrigerated logistics for the food industry. We operate the largest fresh and frozen 48-state LTL consolidation pool, offering extensive cooler and air-conditioned storage, distribution, and cross-docking services. Our expansive network includes refrigerated and ambient warehouses in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin, ensuring optimal storage conditions and timely delivery for temperature-sensitive products like cheese and juice.
Partnering for Success
At MRS, we take pride in partnering with household names you see on the dinner table every night and the firms that support them along the supply chain. Our role extends beyond logistics; we act as an integral part of your team, ensuring your products are stored and delivered cold, clean, correct, and on time. With a commitment to reliability and precision, we strive to support our partners in bringing their products from farm to table efficiently and safely.
Value-Added Services
Our value-added services are designed to enhance your product's market readiness and appeal. These services include kitting, repackaging, custom sample programs, and more. We understand that each product has unique requirements, and our tailored solutions ensure that your goods are handled with the utmost care and expertise. Our comprehensive service offerings not only streamline your logistics operations but also add significant value to your supply chain.
Future Growth and Expansion
MRS continues to expand its footprint to better serve our clients. We are currently building a second warehouse in Belvidere, set to open in 2025, further increasing our capacity and capabilities. With our continued growth, we remain committed to providing top-tier refrigerated logistics services and innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of the food industry. As we look to the future, our focus remains on delivering excellence and fostering strong partnerships built on trust and dependability.
When you succeed, our customers succeed
At MRS, we’re committed to highest quality food and cold chain logistics services in Midwest. We do this by building a culture where you can be yourself, and be appreciated for what you do — whether on the road, in the office, at the warehouse or on our maintenance team. If you like what you hear and see, we’d like to hear from you.