What defines your company culture? A mission statement on a website? A set of values hanging in break rooms? No—culture is something far more dynamic, and for multi-site companies, it’s a challenge to sustain. True culture can be defined not by what one professes to be, but what one does and what one speaks. The act of doing and saying contributes to what we actually become. This is especially true in the cold chain industry, where dispersed locations, diverse workforces, and high turnover rates can test even the most unified organizations.  

But here’s the catch—if done right, a strong company culture doesn’t just survive these challenges; it thrives and becomes a driving force for engagement, innovation, retention and most importantly, passion. At RealCold, we’ve faced these challenges head-on and developed strategies to stay cohesive and mission-driven across multiple sites. Today, we’re sharing actionable insights on how we’ve achieved this to create a collective and unified culture.  

The Complexities of Multi-Site Culture in the Cold Chain Industry  

Multi-site operations bring unique challenges to the forefront—ones that go beyond the typical cultural hurdles. 

• Communication Barriers  

Keeping geographically dispersed teams aligned with a central mission and goals is no small task. Misaligned communication can slow down processes and dilute cultural values. To combat the potential for our teams to not be in-sync, we instituted several key initiatives: 

1. We established an internal Vitals call where our senior leaders and our next level management discuss key operational indicators, strategies and use this time to harness the minds, eyes, ears, and hearts of our operators making it a point to paint the true landscape of the organization and our focal points. We also challenge our local leaders to engage their respective teams daily in a succinct meeting that crystalizes several concepts which include a Leadership study, Key customer issues, Local action log, Continuous Improvement project progress, Workload allocation, Teambuilding events, Safety training, and Regional Recognition. 

2. After years of operating, we have learned which practices are most impactful and resonate across the organization. One of these practices that has been adopted by all sites is the public posting of critical task lists which codify the most critical to-dos regionally, when they were initiated, who owns them, what % complete they are, and updated notes as to the current efforts being put forth to complete those tasks. This approach takes into consideration that human beings tend to value recognition for their contributions. However, they also tend to forget previous efforts unless they are captured somewhere. This public achievement board is a constant reminder of the actions we’ve taken, the ones we are currently undertaking, the effort still to come.   

• Balancing Diversity and Unity  

Each site brings its own local nuances, but staying distinctly “one company” without sacrificing authenticity to local cultures is a balancing act. Realcold goes about this by supplying a noble mission statement and then having each site build their own local vision and interpretation based on the customers and resources they have. These are unique but congruent with our organization’s mission statement. All team members for the site participate. The idea is if a team builds its site vision it will be inclined to live it! 

• Engaging a Dispersed Workforce  

When your teams are separated by physical distance, ensuring everyone feels connected and valued requires intentional effort.  

• Leadership Consistency  

Every site leader carries the responsibility of upholding and instilling company values. Without consistency, culture weakens. To nurture consistency in the interpretation, all employees are encouraged to study from a highly regarded leadership book The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership to teach our team the principles of leadership not only in our organization, but also more broadly in society. The message of this book is that leadership is influence…nothing more and nothing less. We believe that our team members are leaders in our communities, in their homes, and in our workplace. We foster their development around leadership, so that they realize that their potential is far greater than anyone ever imagined. This is key in our strategy to develop succession for our organization and a career path for our people. 

• Turnover and Retention  

High turnover risks the loss of cultural knowledge and can fragment your company’s identity.  

These are real challenges, but they’re not insurmountable. The key lies in leveraging practical strategies to maintain alignment, connection, and purpose across every location.  There is a euphoria human beings experience when they get to teach or when they learn something new. There is disdain naturally in a stagnant environment. We deliberately pursue engagement by pursuing opportunities to teach and to allow our team to in turn teach. 

The RealCold Playbook for Cohesive Culture Across Locations  

RealCold’s multi-site approach is rooted in a few timeless principles—centered values, empowered leadership, strategic technology use, shared purpose, and celebrating success. Here’s how we apply them to keep culture strong across our locations.  

1. Centralized Values, Local Flexibility  

At the heart of RealCold is a clear set of core values—innovation, customer success, and integrity—that act as our unshakable foundation. While these guide every single location, we adapt how they’re expressed based on local needs. For example, regional employee engagement initiatives or community outreach programs bring those values to life in ways that resonate on their own communities.  

Tip: Define your company’s non-negotiables, then ensure local leaders have the flexibility to operationalize them meaningfully in their regions.  

2. Leadership as Culture Champions  

We believe culture starts at the top. That’s why RealCold places a high priority on equipping site leaders to be cultural ambassadors. From training programs that instill leadership confidence to regular check-ins that reinforce values, we ensure every leader has the tools to inspire their teams. 

Tip: Invest in developing your leaders. Clear expectations paired with proper support give them the power to embody and drive your values.  

3. Technology as a Connection Catalyst  

Technology has been a game-changer in bridging gaps between teams. At RealCold, we leverage tools for seamless communication (think Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and internal portals) and constant feedback. Digital training allows every site to be aligned without physical barriers.  

Tip: Adopt tools that facilitate not just communication but also collaboration, fostering a sense of connectedness across your dispersed teams.  

4. Unified Around Shared Purpose  

Nothing builds unity faster than sharing a purpose. RealCold employees know they’re part of something bigger—revolutionizing cold chain logistics to ensure customer success and sustainability.  

No matter if they’re in Clackamas Oregon or Ormond Beach Florida, they understand their work contributes to that mission every day. 

Tip: Clearly articulate your mission for all employees and consistently reinforce how their roles contribute to the company’s success.  

5. Celebrate Success and Milestones  

Recognizing achievements—whether it’s meeting quarterly goals, innovating a new system, or team anniversaries—builds morale and strengthens bonds. At RealCold, we feature these stories across locations through newsletters and company-wide calls to inspire every team.  

Tip: Celebrate big and small wins equally. Personalized recognition creates meaningful connections to your company’s culture.  

Why Strong Culture Drives Business Growth  

These strategies don’t just maintain consistency—they drive results. A unified culture directly impacts employee retention, engagement, and innovation. Beyond that, highly engaged employees become brand ambassadors, helping to attract top-tier talent in a competitive job market.  

Take turnover, for instance. A Gallup study revealed companies with strong employee engagement retain their workforce at an 18% higher rate than competitors. For the cold chain industry, where retention is a constant challenge, the numbers speak volumes.  

Join the Conversation with RealCold  

RealCold’s mission goes beyond logistics. We’re reimagining what it means to foster culture in the cold chain industry. Nationwide, our strategy is simple yet powerful—centered values, empowered leaders, seamless connection, shared purpose, and unyielding recognition of those who make our mission possible.  

If your company is navigating the complexities of multi-site operations, it’s time to prioritize culture. Learn how RealCold fosters a strong culture across multiple sites to drive engagement, innovation, and success. Contact us to explore how we can bring the same commitment to your partnership.