The engines are revving hot at Preferred Freezer Services (PFS), as the world’s fourth-largest operator of cold storage warehouses gears up for the 101st running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 28. Before that, a major road test will take place on the 14th when the pedal hits the metal at the IndyCar Grand Prix in Speedway, Indiana.
PFS is again partnering with Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) and driver J.R. Hildebrand, whose No. 21 Chevrolet is flying the Preferred Freezer Services colors at four Verizon IndyCar Series races this year.
The Chatham, New Jersey, USA-headquartered company first teamed up with ECR to help sponsor a car for Hildebrand in the 2014 Indianapolis 500. It has supported the 29-year-old California native’s Month of May program each year since, with all three Indy 500 entries bringing Top 10 finishes. After much success during his May starts, as well as serving as an indispensable test driver during the summer of 2016, Hildebrand earned the position as starting driver for the No. 21 racecar during the entire 2017 season.
The PFS flag will be flying high in Indianapolis this month, as the No. 21 Chevrolet-powered racecar sporting its colors competes in both the IndyCar Grand Prix and the Indy 500.“Preferred Freezer Services was a big part of helping me get to running just the Indy 500 with ECR the first year in 2014. We’ve been fortunate to see the program grow and help it expand over the last few years,” stated Hildebrand. “I’m really excited to be able to continue that partnership and have them on board for a few more races this year! It is great to work with these guys again.”
In April Hildebrand’s familiar white and blue PFS livery finished third at the Phoenix Grand Prix in Arizona and 11th in California at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. After the upcoming Indy races, PFS colors will adorn Hildebrand’s car at the Honda Indy Toronto in Canada. Additionally, PFS will be an associate on the No. 21 for all remaining races this season.
J.R. Hildebrand will be behind the wheel during both races in Indianapolis this month as well as at the IndyCar Series event in Toronto, Canada, on July 16.Hildebrand and ECR team owner Ed Carpenter will make their annual visit to Preferred Freezer Service’s headquarters in northern New Jersey in early May. Carpenter will also carry the PFS white polar bear logo on his No. 20 Fuzzy’s Ultra Premium Vodka Chevrolet during six oval racing events.
“It is great to have Preferred Freezer back and to carry them on our cars all year long,” remarked Carpenter. “It is always ‘cool’ to have the giant polar bear around. We are proud to see this partnership grow again this year!”
Big Bear Handles Frozens with Care
PFS operates more than 9,214,000 cubic meters of cold storage space around the world at 37 facilities in the United States, three in China, and one in Vietnam.
In early June its third refrigerated warehouse in Chicago will bring an additional 39,000 pallet positions to market, providing Preferred customers in the “Windy City” with more than 80,000 pallet slots. The facility, situated at the intersection of South Blue Island Avenue Drive and South Wood Street, covers 227,043 square feet and stands 58 feet tall. It houses three rooms providing multi-temperature capabilities including
blast freezing services for meat packers.
“We look forward to providing our customers the capacity they need to store their frozen goods in a state-of-the-art warehouse with the very latest in engineering, refrigeration, LED lighting, warehouse management systems and nationwide logistics services,” said Daniel DiDonato, executive vice president of sales. – Reported by John Saulnier
