EXEL LOGISTICS AND VERSACOLD SET UP REEFER LOGISTICS VENTURE

   Exel Logistics and Versacold Corp. have formed a partnership to provide warehousing and transportation services for grocery manufacturers and retailers in North America.
    Versacold is Canada’s largest, and North America’s sixth largest, refrigerated warehousing and distribution company.
    Named EV Logistics, the joint operation will provide single-source integrated logistics service that include transportation. Integrated reefer supply chain services are already common in Europe, Exel Logistics said.
    EV Logistics’ services will extend beyond the traditional management of distribution centers and transportation operations to incorporate operational and planning skills, including freight consolidation, cross docking, merge in-transit operations, reverse logistics, as well as network analysis and design, the companies said in a joint statement.
Jeremy Hawkins, a 15-year veteran of Exel Logistics, has been named director of EV Logistics.
    Exel Logistics and Versacold said that about $41 billion (U.S.) will be spent on logistics by the North American retail food industry by 2001.