CORE X GRESS

What Edward James “Jim” Gress started at 17 as a poultry distributor in 1940s Scranton evolved into a processing plant and worldwide distribution operation by 1980. By the late 90s, the company fully transitioned into cold storage and transportation, building additional warehouses and launching a fleet of refrigerated trucks that still proudly carry the Gress name today. Glenn Gress Sr. expanded this foundation with his legendary ability to pivot at the last minute—rearranging drivers, shifting loads, and making the impossible happen when competitors said no. He treated every single load as pivotal to the company’s success, building a reputation for urgency and reliability that set GRESS apart in the Northeast market.

Glenn Jr. worked alongside his father for 15 years, where he absorbed decades of wisdom about what really matters in this business. “The only way we could exist up here is by offering superior service and having those tight-knit relationships that grow over many years,” Glenn reflects, echoing lessons learned from both his father and grandfather.

Today, he carries forward the family motto—”Last time we said no, we didn’t understand the question”—while steering GRESS into new territory. The facility now handles freight consolidation and recently resumed exporting for the first time in 30 years. The CORE X partnership brought technology updates and BRC certification while preserving what makes GRESS special: employees who’ve stayed for decades and CSRs who know their customers’ children by name.

“You don’t have to have Gress blood in you to be a Gress,” Glenn notes. “Once you come here, you just get it.” Looking ahead, Glenn wants GRESS to remain “that same old Gress”—a place where any challenge finds a solution and every load matters as much as the family reputation.