The strength of any company comes from its roots – Trenton Cold Storage, originally named Apple and Produce Cold Storage and Forwarding Company, was founded in 1902 by Eben James I in Trenton, Ontario. Its geographical location was chosen, on Lake Ontario for its exceptional apple crops, shipping opportunities by boat and rail and its potential for growth. The company grew from a need to store, pack and ship barrels of apples from Ontario to the United Kingdom.

In the era of ice boxes, Eben saw the need for rentable public refrigerated spaces to not only help larger customers, but also local families with reliable cold storage lockers for their perishable items.

During the Second World War, when export of apples was no longer an option, the Trenton plant pivoted, as part of the war effort, to an egg storage facility where eggs were processed, dried and shipped overseas. In 1945, the company faced challenges adjusting from wartime to peacetime. The plant needed renovations, new products, customers and a new outlook on business growth.

In 1949, at the time of the founder’s death, his son Eben James II, was equally determined and passionate to expand and diversify Trenton Cold Storage’s customers and business. He branched out into the vegetable freezing market by contracting with the Stokely Van Camp Company and later other companies, to freeze and store their products.

Technology was changing rapidly and so was refrigerated storage. After learning how oxygen affects the breakdown of apples, TCS began reducing the oxygen levels in the storage of apples, which involved removing air from storage spaces. This drastically lengthened the time apples remained fresh.

Trenton Cold Storage built a game-changing on-site plant for a multinational food manufacturer, a business relationship that is now over 60 years old. In the early 1970’s, TCS ventured into vegetable processing and became the largest processor of frozen corn on the cob in Canada.

Trenton Cold Storage nourished business growth opportunities by encouraging multi-national food manufacturers to plant their roots in the Trenton area and supported them by providing on site storage. TCS grew substantially by adding another three warehouse locations in the Trenton area; Tri-County Apple Growers (TCAG), Fraser Glenburnie Inc. (FGI), and Fraser Road Cooler (FRC). As the company grew, the demand for transportation skyrocketed. To accommodate this, TCS developed a new system involving pooling and consolidating of freight, which allowed for lower prices, faster delivery, and a widened range of transport delivery options.

In the year 2000, Eben James III assumed the role of CEO for Trenton Cold Storage. He joined the business at the early age of fifteen and with a strong education, guidance from his father and support from the TCS team, he grew and diversified the company by providing storage and distribution services to large grocery retailers.

In 2002, TCS celebrated 100 years in business! With a passion to expand the company, TCS grew by adding warehouse locations locally and across Canada; TCS Wellington (2002), TCS Edmonton (2002), PPL North Trenton (2004), TCS Toronto (2010) and TCS Calgary (2018). These sites helped serve and meet the needs of food manufacturers, distributors and retailers across North America.

TCS focused on sustainability through multiple initiatives including installing solar panels on the roofs of its various locations, adding motion-sensing LED lighting, participating in energy curtailment, replacing traditional batteries with rapid charge in lift trucks, recycling cardboard and stretch wrap and planting trees in order to reduce our carbon footprint and environmental impact.

Like an orchard our business has spread from the Trenton area to locations across Canada. Over the years TCS has faced and overcome many challenges including two disastrous fires, two world wars, the great depression and other economic upheavals. Throughout these years TCS faced these challenges head on, adapted, grew and evolved. If Eben I could return today, he would undoubtedly recognize the plant’s familiar location but he would be astounded and proud of the Company and its accomplishments over the past 120 years… and we are just getting started.

Grow with us!