History
The year was 1966. Terms like "logistics" and "supply chain management" were certainly not industry buzzwords. Yet, our founder and CEO David Lyons had a vision for an organization that would deliver competitive, dependable distribution services based upon these general concepts. Saddle Creek was founded that year, and as they say, "the rest is history."
Saddle Creek Milestones (by decade)
1970s
- Saddle Creek develops a substantial warehouse and local delivery business in Central Florida, based predominantly on commodities from local manufacturers.
- Our customer roster includes a number of accounts needing year-round and seasonal service.
1980s
- Growth leads to expansion in Macon, GA, where we develop considerable expertise in high-value commodities and export distribution.
- During this era, we first start handling grocery products, beginning with Pillsbury, our first grocery account in Orlando.
1990s
- Our distribution experience with retailers leads to the successful launch of a 100-truckload-per-day cross-dock operation in Lakeland, FL.
- Our outstanding service record leads to the operation of a major grocery DC in Atlanta, GA, for Pillsbury and the start of a second retail-support cross-dock operation there.
- We open a new grocery and alcoholic beverage warehousing facility in Dallas for Tri Valley Growers and a world leader in winemaking.
- We continue to invest resources in technology. RF, barcoding, and multi-vendor delivery are added to our menu of services.
- We begin to provide specialized, stand-alone contract operations, and open two new distribution facilities in Georgia and Texas to handle high-value products.
2000s
- Saddle Creek purchases what is now Saddle Creek Copak Services, a contract packaging / warehousing specialty company in Charlotte, NC. Our integrated contract packaging services now include product assembly, display assembly, fulfillment, and shrink-wrapping services.
- Additional contract warehousing facilities open for Scotts Company in Orlando, FL and a leading beverage manufacturer in Waco, TX, and Oklahoma City.
- We develop technology-driven services to give customers direct access to comprehensive warehouse information reports via our web site.
- A new 430,000-square-foot distribution facility in Fort Worth, TX, opens on the Railhead campus.
- We design and implement a specialized, high-volume cross-dock operation in Lakeland, FL, for a fresh products manufacturer.
- A 300,000-square-foot contract operation opens in Fort Worth, TX, for International Paper.
- We open a 520,000-square-foot mixing center in Atlanta for a major food and beverage manufacturer.
- A 492,000 mixing center is opened in Grand Prairie, TX for a major food and beverage manufacturer.
- Two large dedicated mixing centers open for Del Monte – 680,000 square feet in Fort Worth and 780,000 square feet in Atlanta.
- A second specialized, high-volume cross-dock operation is awarded to the Charlotte, NC, campus by a fresh products manufacturer.
- We celebrate our 40th anniversary with the help of 1,208 associates, now operating a total of 8,952,200 square feet throughout 31 buildings in six states.
- We form a strategic alliance with G3 for Illinois, California and New Jersey.
- Saddle Creek Transportation Services becomes a division of Saddle Creek Transportation, Inc., offering a full range of non-asset based transportation services nationwide, including truckload, LTL, dedicated, and consolidation services.
- We’re awarded a contract operation in Florida with 100,000 square feet of chilled and freezer space.
- Our Lakeland, FL, campus achieves ISO 9000:2001 certification.
- We begin construction of a 98,600-square-foot cross-dock facility in Lakeland, FL, for a fresh products manufacturer.
- Saddle Creek acquires ServiceCraft Logistics
Today, Saddle Creek Corporation is a leading third-party logistics services company that provides warehousing, transportation, contract packaging, and integrated logistics services — nationwide. With a focus on selected commodities, and core services, we’re able to help you go to market through responsive, results-oriented service.
We’re still making history today. Check out our latest news.