Zwolle, the Netherlands, January 26, 2011 – The European Cold Storage and Logistics Association (ECSLA) has announced that Bram Hage and John Galiher will be the keynote speakers at the 14th ECSLA European Cold Chain Logistics Program, being held February 21-23, 2011 at the Maritim proArte Hotel in Berlin, Germany.

Bram Hage is the founder and CEO of Partner Logistics Europe in the Netherlands, one of the largest cold storage companies in the world. Hage started his company at the end of the 20th century and has since then developed it into a leading logistic service provider in the field of operating automated warehouses with 12 sites in the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom and Russia and a capacity of over 3 million cubic meters.

John Galiher, President and CEO of Preferred Freezer Services, based in Newark, New Jersey, joined a group of investors to acquire his company in 1989 when it had only $2.5 million in annual sales. Under his leadership, Preferred Freezer Services has grown to be one of the largest public refrigerated warehouse companies in the world with annual sales of $150 million and a capacity of 5.8 million cubic meters. Galiher directs a multinational operation – Preferred Freezer Services operates cold storage warehouses in the United States, China, and Vietnam. The company continues to grow with several more warehouses currently under construction.

Approximately 130-160 cold chain executives from 20 nations are expected to attend the ECSLA European Cold Chain Logistics Program to hear Hage and Galiher address the program theme, “Passionate to Perform; Meeting growing demands of clients under difficult circumstances.”

“Both Hage and Galiher have represent exceptionally well-performing companies that have shown remarkable growth since their establishment,” said ECSLA Managing Director Theo van Sambeeck. “They are also both known for achieving success by challenging the way things are done.”

During their keynote addresses, Hage and Galiher will discuss their business philosophies and success factors, and major challenges and changes the cold storage industry will be facing in the coming years.

The ECSLA program is unique because it is the only truly international meeting place in Europe for the temperature-controlled food logistics industries such as public and private cold stores, processors, transportation and distribution businesses, and their product suppliers. In addition to two keynote addresses, the event also offers a wide range of presentations by experts on strategic and operational issues, an informative trade show, sightseeing tours, networking lunches, reception, industry dinner, and company visits to Tiefkühllogistik Center Wustermark and to the temperature-controlled distribution center of Netto Supermarkets.

The event is organized by the European Cold Storage and Logistics Association (ECSLA) with the support of the Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) and the German national cold storage association, VDKL. For more information, visit http://www.gcca.org/hq/europeaneducation/.

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The European Cold Storage and Logistics Association (ECSLA) is the voice of the European cold storage industry. The ECSLA mission is to represent the cold logistics companies’ interests, at the level of European and international institutions, in order to contribute to the development of a legislative and economic framework addressing the competitiveness of industry, food quality and safety, consumer protection and respect for the environment. For more information about ECSLA, visit www.ecsla.be.

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