Logistics Leaders Since 1925

HISTORY

The Burris Logistics STORY began in 1925 when John W. Burris and his father, Edward, recognized an opportunity in delivering tomatoes from the farms in lower Delaware and Maryland to markets in Philadelphia. On the return trips, they delivered freshly baked bread to Acme Markets, a continuously serviced customer since.

Five generations of Burris family members and a team of more than 2,000 dedicated employees have maintained the guiding principles John W. Burris set forth nearly a century ago. Stewardship of the business has been passed to succeeding sons John E. “Jack” Burris, Bob Burris, and presently to Donnie Burris, CEO. Along the way, much has changed, yet stayed the same.

Our core values reflect integrity, commitment to true partnerships with service excellence, and an innovative solutions-focused spirit have been fostered and maintained throughout the Company’s history. Change has come in the form of automation and technological advances in information technology, communications, refrigeration advances, modernized fleets and facilities, and vastly improved processes.

Burris Logistics, through dependable supply chain solutions, relies on expertise in the precision handling of multiple categories of food goods and related items at virtually all temperatures and points along the supply chain. Burris Logistics got its start as a cold chain pioneer and today leads the industry in applying the knowledge and experience of the past with the technology and vision necessary for the future.

Our freight brokerage abilities have evolved from a few loads per week in 2018 to 50,000 per week in 2023.

Now, Burris Logistics is the parent company that supports our operational brands. Honor Foods and Trinity Logistics come together for premier supply chain solutions offering redistribution, freight brokerage, and logistics technology.

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Burris Logistics

  • The story of Burris Foods began in 1925 when Edward F. Burris and his son, John W. Burris, started Burris Express. This business consisted of buying and hauling local produce, eggs, and poultry on the Delmarva Peninsula and transporting them to Philadelphia. Seeking return loads, John W. Burris convinced the American Stores Bakery (Acme Markets, Inc.) to let him haul their fresh bread on a daily basis, making store door deliveries to the eastern shore of Delaware and Maryland with greater efficiency than the railroads.
1925 - Burris Express Truck

Burris Logistics

  • The steamship Frederica was bought by the Burris family and used to transport tomatoes from Frederica, Delaware, to the Campbell Soup Co. in Camden, New Jersey. Coal was sometimes hauled on the return trip.
1928 - Steamship Federica

Burris Logistics

  • Burris Express was merged with Victor Lynn Lines with John W. Burris as vice president of operations. This company used a combination of trucks and ships to haul freight of all types between Baltimore, Philadelphia, and the Eastern Shore.
1930 - Burris Food Distributors, Inc. Sign

Burris Logistics

  • John W. Burris resigned from Victor Lynn and formed a new firm known as John W. Burris Trucking Company (later called Burris Food Distributors, Inc.) whose sole purpose was the transportation of food products for the American (Acme) and Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company (A&P Stores) from Maryland, Delaware and Virginia at the time.
1939 - John W. Burris Trucking Company

Burris Logistics

  • Kent-Sussex Tire Service Company was started by Willard Hall, CFO, as an SCorp, to acquire tires for Burris’ trucks during World War II. It evolved into a device to educate Jack’s (John E.) children. John M. Burris expanded the company into an additional location in Seaford, Delaware, and later in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Burris Logistics

  • John E. Burris (Jack) took over the management of Burris Food Distributors, and during the late ’40s and the 1950’s oversaw its entry into the then fledgling frozen food business. Burris begins shipping frozen foods and fresh meats out of this freezer in Milford, Delaware.
1949 - Burris Food Distributors
  • Our original pick system in our first frozen food warehouse. In this photo, Burris Team Members are picking a load of Crosse and Blackwell Frozen Orange Juice.
1949 - Original Pick System

Honor Foods

  • Honor Foods was founded as a food redistributor of center-of-the-plate foods.
1949 - Honor Foods Family

Burris Logistics

  • A 25-year charitable giving commitment begins; Burris family members and employees first volunteer to cook chicken at the annual Milford Hospital Fair. This company-wide fundraising effort continued for the next 25 years.
1957 - Lillian Burris at the Annual Milford Hospital Fair

Burris Logistics

  • Burris also had another side business, ​Burris Poultry​. This picture shows Burris team members processing poultry in the building that is now our corporate headquarters in Milford. Burris Poultry (processing plant) merges with J. McKinney Willis (grain and feed) to create Bayshore Foods. The processing plant in Milford’s name is changed to Shorgood Poultry Company.
1961 - Burris Poultry

In the early 1960’s, Jack Burris was head of the Delmarva Poultry Industry. During this time, KFC’s Colonel Sanders was a guest at Jack and Lillian’s summer residence in Lewes, Delaware for two nights. Late one night, high winds caused the Colonel to wake the Burris children and send them to the beach to rescue the boats. Pictured is Jack, Lillian, and Colonel Sanders.

1960s - Colonel Sanders is guest at Burris home

Burris Logistics

  • Burris completed construction of the Harrington, Delaware facility. This retail case pick distribution center provides a full line of frozen foods to supermarkets, carrying more than 5,000 SKUs.
1973 - Harrington, Delaware Facility

Burris Logistics

  • The company sells Burris Food Distributors, Inc. to Tom Pinto, a contract carrier for Acme Markets and A&P.

Burris Logistics

  • Jack and Lillian Burris at the 20th annual Milford Hospital Fair cooking chicken donated by Burris Foods, Inc.
1977 - 20th annual Milford Hospital
Fair

Burris Logistics

  • On February 19, our Harrington, Delaware, warehouse was destroyed by a fire in the midst of a blizzard. Many say that the Burris “Make it Happen” core value was established that day, for despite the total loss of inventory and use of our warehouse, we were up and running again in 13 weeks.
1979 - Harrington, Delaware Fire

Trinity Logistics

  • Trinity Transport, a truck brokerage is founded in Cambridge, Maryland, by Ed Banning and his wife, Deana Cox Banning. The first logo bore the words “peace, faith, and truth” around a triangle with a map of the United States in the center.
1979 - Trinity Transport

Burris Logistics

  • First Board Meeting.

Burris Logistics

  • Jack Burris pictured with his sons, Howard, Bob, and John. At the time this photo was taken, Breyers Vanilla Ice Cream was the number one volume item shipped out of Burris Food’s Harrington location.
1984 - Jack and His Sons

Burris Logistics

  • Burris sells Foodservice to Sandler Foods of Virginia Beach.

Burris Logistics

  • Burris starts its first Formal Management Training Program with Bob and Joyce Anderson.

Burris Logistics

  • Burris Foods, Inc. expanded operations by acquiring new warehouses in Federalsburg, Maryland, and Sumter, South Carolina. These facilities, and a newly constructed warehouse in Waynesboro, Virginia, form Burris Refrigerated Services (BRS).
1987 - Federalsburg, Maryland
Federalsburg, Maryland
1987 - Sumter, South Carolina
Sumter, South Carolina
1987 - Waynesboro, Virginia
Waynesboro, Virginia
  • Burris purchases Glacier. This is where Burris first adopted the snowflake into its brand.
1987 - Glacier Truck

Burris Logistics

  • Burris develops its first, proprietary Warehouse Management System software application.
1989 - Ed Krupka

Trinity Logistics

  • Trinity begins its agency program, expanding brand awareness and service territories throughout North America.
1990 - Jim Medlock and Ed Banning

Burris Logistics

  • Chesapeake, Virginia facility built.
1991 - Chesapeake, Virginia Facility

Burris Logistics

  • Pictured is Jack and Lillian Burris with their daughter, Lilla, her husband, Bob Hoopman, and Vice President of Superfresh, Casper Jenko, at a Superfresh store opening in Baltimore, Maryland.
1993
  • Sold Kent Sussex Tire Service.

Burris Logistics

  • Expansion to the Harrington, Delaware facility. This addition, known as the Conventional Section, is set up similarly to our other locations and uses forklifts rather than cranes to select product.
1995

Burris Logistics

  • A history of Burris was presented at Burris Foods Focus ’96 Seminar.
  • Four generations of the Burris Family. Jack Burris, his son (and former CEO) Bob Burris, Bob’s son (and current CEO) Donnie Burris, and Donnie’s one-year-old son, Davis Burris.
1996

Burris Logistics

  • A groundbreaking ceremony was held in Benson, North Carolina on Tuesday, August 20, 1996, at the site on Gilbert Road of U.S. 302 between Interstate 40 and 95. When it was completed in 1997, it contained 125,000 sq. ft. and employed approximately 40 people. This facility was built to provide storage for the protein-producing companies in the southeast. It also had tremendous blast capacity.
1997 - Bensen, North Carolina Facility

Burris Logistics

  • Pictured: Jack Burris with his three sons, Bob, Howard, and John.
1998 - Jack, Bob, Howard, and John Burris

Trinity Logistics

  • Trinity launches its first website. Trinity Distribution Services, an asset-based division of the firm, is launched.
1998 - Trinity Distribution Services

Burris Logistics

  • Burris adds the New Castle, Delaware facility to its portfolio to accommodate a major new customer — BJ’s Wholesale Club, supporting their retail club stores with frozen and refrigerated distribution.
1999 - New Castle, Delaware

Burris Logistics

  • Leased freezer space in Acme’s Distribution Center located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, from 2000-2007.

Burris Logistics

  • Burris expands to Florida through SACS purchase, which included two buildings in Jacksonville, one in Haines City, one in Lakeland, and one in Orlando (which was sold). There were five buildings in total.
2001 - SACS Purchase
  • Burris Foods, Inc., becomes Burris Logistics.
2001 - Burris Logistics Logo
  • The first day of shipping at the newly-constructed Orlando facility at 10900 Central Port Drive was on September 11.
2001 - Orlando, Florida Facility
  • On that same historical day, rolled out first in-house warehouse management system software, V3 installed at Federalsburg.
  • Purchased Webster, Massachusetts, freezer later sold in 2004.

Burris Logistics

  • Federalsburg Wins “Vendor of the Year Award” from Giant Landover.
  • Burris Logistics completes major upgrade to its warehouse system software, rolled out initially to the Federalsburg, Maryland location.

Burris Logistics

  • Ed Givens, Richard Black, and all of the associates at Federalsburg are to be congratulated on winning the Giant Food, Inc. (Landover, Maryland) Vendor of the Year Award for the second year in a row. Of all the vendors that supply this chain of 190 stores with meats, poultry, deli, produce or floral, Burris Logistics is the best!
2003 - Giant Food, Inc. Vendor of the Year Award
  • Second Lakeland, Florida, facility is purchased.
2003 - Lakeland Annex, Florida Facility
  • Freezer renovation and addition to Jacksonville, Florida.
2003 - Jacksonville, Florida Facility

Burris Logistics

  • John E. “Jack” Burris, 3rd generation leader passes. “A Mountain of a Man with the Soul of an Angel.”
2004 - Remembering John E. “Jack” Burris
  • Advertising for Vocollect highlights the benefits of Voice-Directed Distribution technology, providing 99.88% accuracy, increasing productivity up 11.9%, and earning 100% of the value back in just 10 months — a real asset for cold storage logistics!
2004 - Vocollect Advertisement
  • Elkton, Maryland facility is built.
2004 - Elkton, Maryland Facility

Burris Logistics

  • Purchases D.L. Matthews and incorporates into Federalsburg, Maryland operation.
  • The Elkton, MD facility joins the BJ’s distribution program.

Trinity Logistics

  • The Trinity Foundation is established as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization to funnel the already existing community efforts of Trinity employees into a more organized system.
2005 - Trinity Foundation Established

Burris Logistics

  • Burris strengthens its foodservice redistribution capabilities by acquiring Honor Foods based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
2007 - Honor Foods Facility
  • Burris signs contract for a custom distribution program with The Fresh Market.
2007 - The Fresh Market

Trinity Logistics

  • Trinity moves into its 44,000 square foot corporate headquarters in Seaford, Delaware.
2007 - New Trinity Headquarters in Seaford, Delaware

Burris Logistics

  • Rocky Hill, Connecticut facility is built, and the facility joins the BJ’s distribution program.
2008 - Rocky Hill, Connecticut Facility
  • Burris Logistics Technology team embarks on a major technology modernization project.
  • Lakeland, Florida completes an addition to the facility to total 117,247 sq. ft.
2008 - Lakeland, Florida Facility

Burris Logistics

  • Burris develops Burris University: a week-long training program focused on developing the Burris culture, leadership, and management.
2009 - Burris University Logo
  • Burris acquires N. Winer & Son, Springfield, Massachusetts, adding to its foodservice redistribution capabilities.

Burris Logistics

  • Bob Burris, President, and CEO of Burris Logistics passes away on September 19, 2010. Bob began working for the family business at the age of 12. He willingly passed along his ideas, experience and natural talents as a successful businessman to many aspiring entrepreneurs.
2010 - Bob Burris
  • Donnan “Donnie” Burris is promoted to CEO after his father, Robert D. “Bob” Burris, the 4th generation leader of Burris Logistics, passes.
2010 - Donnan “Donnie” Burris
  • Burris sells three facilities: Sumter, South Carolina, Benson, North Carolina, and Chesapeake, Virginia.
  • Burris receives the “Operator Friendly” Award in recognition of our valued partnership with BJ’s Wholesale Club.
2010 - BJ’s Wholesale Club “Operator Friendly” Award
  • The Company establishes four business segments: Custom Supply Chain Solutions, Foodservice Redistribution, Cold Storage, and Transportation Management.
  • The “Burris Delivers for You” concept was established emphasizing: • Culture of integrity focused on exceptional customer service. • Track record of starting up challenging programs delivered with flawless implementation. • Seamless integration across any and all I.T. platforms and business processes. • Guaranteed performance levels that customers can count on. • Effective management of consigned or owned inventory through extensive procurement expertise. • Strong vendor relationships that benefit our clients and vendors alike.

Burris Logistics

  • Burris Retail Distribution becomes Burris Custom, with a focus on offering services to extend our partners’ supply chain to include distribution, transportation, warehousing, procurement, and logistics technology.

Trinity Logistics

  • Trinity Transport rebrands as Trinity Logistics as a reflection of its growth from a truckload brokerage to a top logistics company.
2012 - Trinity Logistics

Trinity Logistics

  • Trinity Logistics named #1 Top Workplace in Delaware by the DE News Journal.

Burris Logistics

  • Lillian Burris (wife of former CEO Jack Burris) passes away on Tuesday, April 8, 2014.
2014 - Lillian and Jack Burris

Trinity Logistics

  • Trinity Logistics acquires full ownership of Trinity Transportation Group, formerly Tappan Marketing, Ic. of Buford, Georgia.
2014 - Trinity Transportation Group Regional Service Center
  • Elkton, MD takes on its first e-commerce partner, Everspoon, providing direct-to-consumer fulfillment to American families’ doorsteps.

Burris Logistics

  • Burris Logistics Technology team rolls out the Supply Chain Portal, which provides end-to-end visibility and transparency of the Supply Chain.
2017 - Burris Supply Chain Portal
  • The Rocky Hill, CT facility partners with Market Basket as a frozen bakery product distribution customer.

Burris Logistics

  • Burris Freight Management, a business line of Burris Logistics announced that it has acquired Iowa-based, Streamline Logistics.
2018 - Burris Freight Management Team
  • Burris opens 250,000 square-foot public refrigerated warehouse in McDonough, Georgia.
2018 - McDonough, Georgia Facility
  • Burris Logistics acquires Oklahoma City, Oklahoma warehouse.
2018 - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Facility

Burris Logistics

  • On the 40th Anniversary of the fire that destroyed our Harrington, Delaware warehouse in the midst of a blizzard, Burris Logistics team members who experienced this tragedy first-hand, reflect on the challenges and culture at work to ensure operations were quickly restored.

Trinity Logistics

  • Trinity Logistics was acquired by Burris Logistics.

Burris Logistics

  • We are ESSENTIAL. We are FAMILY. We are ONEBURRIS. As a result of the Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), the frozen and refrigerated food industry experienced an incredible increase in demand. Our team pivoted to “Make it Happen.” We had to focus on our partners’ demands and the well-being of all team members.
2020 - Front-line workers never stopped supporting the supply chain
2020 - Health and Safety First
2020 - Spirit and Pride of ONEBURRIS
2020 - Masked and Hard at Work
2020 - Socially-distanced Office Life
  • Exited the Specialty Retail Business to convert Federalsburg, Maryland facility to an E-commerce fulfillment center to expand our Northeast Network
2020 - Federalsburg, Maryland E-commerce
  • Sold Lyndhurst, Virginia facility.

Trinity Logistics

  • Trinity Logistics acquired Granite Logistics in Minnesota.
2020 - Trinity acquired Granite Logistics

Burris Logistics

  • Harrington, Delaware’s 220,000 square foot location yields control of Albertson’s Mid-Atlantic division’s frozen food business.
  • Acquisition of Waukesha, Wisconsin, adds E-commerce network growth and increased coverage of 1-Day Ground shipping.
2021 - Waukesha, Wisconsin Facility
  • Addition of a new distribution center in Independence, Kentucky, to accommodate BJ’s expansion of its footprint in the Eastern part of the United States.
  • Sold Haines City, Florida facility.

Trinity Logistics

  • Trinity Logistics acquired Team Eagle Logistics in Arizona.
2021 - Trinity and Team Eagle Logistics

Honor Foods

  • Honor Foods opens a brand new warehouse at 5505 Tacony Street in Philadelphia joining the teams of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Springfield, Massachusetts, into one location.
2021 - Honor Foods New Headquarters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Burris Logistics

  • After an amazing twenty-plus year relationship, BJ’s Wholesale Club acquired the four Burris Logistics Warehouses and operations that supports their club stores across the country. The twenty year partnership is unheard of in third party logistics and was a true testament to a relationship that worked! 

    “Burris Logistics has been proud to partner with BJ’s on its growth and transformation over the last several years,” Burris Logistics CEO Donnie Burris stated. “This acquisition represents the next chapter in Burris Logistics’ evolution and presents amazing opportunities for both BJ’s and the team members at these distribution centers. I am incredibly proud of what we have created and extremely excited to see the future growth for all involved.”

Trinity Logistics

  • Trinity Logistics acquires Team Eagle Logistics of Scottsdale, Arizona — adding a new service center to service the west coast.
Team Eagle Logistics

Honor Foods

  • On June 10, 2022, Honor Foods agrees to purchase Sommer Maid Creamery, a foodservice redistribution company with dairy expertise located in Pipersville, PA. This acquisition broadens Honor Foods’ portfolio and solidifies its position as the leading foodservice redistributor in the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions.
Honor Foods acquires Sommer Maid Creamery and
  • On June 21, 2022, Honor Foods expands its redistribution capability by purchasing the R.W. Zant Company, a foodservice redistributor with protein expertise located in Los Angeles, CA. 
Honor Foods agrees to purchase R.W. Zant Company.

Burris Logistics

  • Kicked off our ONEBURRIS Workplace Initiative to align our shared Purpose and Values across all Burris Logistics Companies. Purchased Sunny Morning Foods, Sold our Ecommerce and Cold Storage operational brand, Burris Logistics.

Honor Foods

  • Burris Logistics expands Honor Foods’ reach with acquisition of Sunny Morning Foods deal adds Southeast region reach to Honor’s core operations in the Mid-Atlantic and New England states.

One of the Mid-Atlantic’s largest, most trusted foodservice redistribution companies, Honor Foods specializes in refrigerated, frozen, dry, and dairy products from the best-known brands.

Trinity Logistics ranks among the top 20 Freight Brokerage companies in the U.S., with a wide network of authorized carriers and a full suite of transportation solutions.