Photo Credit: Lange Companies

For large-scale food shippers, scorecards remain a critical tool to evaluate the performance of logistics partners. Metrics like on-time delivery, reliability, communication, and safety help benchmark performance, but at this large-scale level, it’s about more than just hitting numbers.

Even small breakdowns can impact product quality, shelf life, and customer satisfaction. With little margin for error, expectations for logistics partners are high and consistency, visibility, and responsiveness become essential.

Companies operating at this scale set the standard. One example is Sysco, one of the largest foodservice distributors in the world, serving approximately 730,000 customer locations. With that scale comes a high level of expectation for the partners supporting its supply chain.

Each year, companies like Sysco recognize a select group of logistics partners that demonstrate exceptional performance across their networks. These awards are based on consistently outperforming across scorecard metrics, honoring partners who deliver reliability, strong communication, and a true commitment to service.

So, what does it take for a logistics provider to perform at that level and what sets certain carriers apart?

One of Sysco’s strategic logistics partners, Lange was recently awarded Sysco’s 2025 Produce Broker of the Year Award. This recognition reflects more than just hitting metrics, it highlights the ability to operate consistently in a fast-moving, time- and temperature-sensitive environment.

“For more than 65 years, Lange Companies has been built on integrity, hard work, and an unwavering commitment to our customers,” says Jeremy Sander, Vice President – Saint Louis, with Lange’s Logistics division. “Our journey began with a simple idea: do right by people, and success will follow.”

Providing Award-Winning Service

In food logistics, there’s very little room for error. Timing, temperature, and visibility all play a critical role and small disruptions can quickly turn into larger issues.

That’s where execution matters most.

Lange’s Logistics division is built to handle high-volume, time- and temperature-sensitive freight across over-the-road trucking, intermodal, and bulk transportation. But beyond capabilities, it’s how the team operates day to day that makes the difference.

Leading food brands don’t just look for service, they look for partners who operate as an extension of their team. That’s how Lange is built.

At the center of this approach is Lange’s pod structure, where small, dedicated teams are built around each customer.

Lange’s operating model is designed to stay close to every load, bringing a proactive, hands-on approach that prioritizes communication, responsiveness, and real-time decision-making.

In practice, that means solving issues before they become problems, maintaining clear visibility across shipments, and staying flexible when conditions shift.

“This creates a working environment where everyone on the team is invested in the accounts we handle,” says Sander. “It allows us to elevate our level of service, with multiple team members understanding each customer’s needs.”

Instead of relying on a single point of contact, customers have a team that knows their business, leading to faster responses, better communication, and more consistent execution.

That approach is supported by a few key advantages:

• 13+ year average company tenure. That level of experience brings continuity and familiarity, helping drive better communication, quicker decisions, and fewer gaps across the supply chain.
• 24/7/365 account management. “Our team is available around the clock, so customers always have a clear picture of what’s happening with their loads,” says Sander. “We stay close to every shipment and step in quickly when something changes.” 
• Real-time tracking. “We use real-time tracking and alert systems to stay on top of every load,” says Sander. “If something changes, we know right away and can act on it.”  

Lange Beyond Logistics: From Field to Delivery

Over the past 65 years, Lange Companies has built a supply chain model that connects sourcing, logistics, and execution from start to finish.

Today, that model is driven by three core divisions that work together every day:

• Lange Farms – our growing division, built on long-standing grower partnerships across the U.S. and around the world, with a focus on quality, consistency, and strong relationships at the source. 
• Lange Fresh Sales – our sourcing and sales division, connecting supply with retail and foodservice partners and keeping product aligned with demand. 
• Lange Logistics – specializing in temperature-controlled and time-sensitive shipments, backed by a strong carrier network and real-time visibility. 

Supporting all three divisions are Lange’s value-added capabilities, including packing, cold storage, and quality assurance, which help protect product, extend shelf life, and keep things moving when timing is critical.

“What makes Lange different is how connected everything is,” says Sander. “Our teams are aligned from the start, so whether it’s sourcing, logistics, or value-added services, we’re working together to keep product moving and solve issues before they become problems. That’s where our customers see the real value—and how they get more with Lange.”

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