Distribution Center to Include Ammonia Refrigeration Cold Dock

Stellar and Dot Foods broke ground on a 179,000 ft² distribution center in Manchester, Tenn. The facility will house a 78,000 ft² ammonia refrigeration cold dock, freezer and cooler area, and an 83,000 ft² dry storage area.

The $50.5 million project, which also includes 17,000 ft² of office and welfare space, will expand Dot Foods’ Tennessee operations and create more than 250 new jobs within the first three years. Completion is scheduled for fall 2023.

Dot Foods carries 125,000 products from 1,020 food industry manufacturers, making it one of the largest food industry redistributors in North America, according to the organization. The company operates a distribution warehouse in Dyersburg, Tenn., which Stellar also designed and constructed in 2015.

Cold-Storage Facility Opens in Ontario

Sierra Supply Chain Services opened Sierra Cold, a $65 million cold-storage facility in Hamilton, Ontario. The facility includes nearly 164,000 ft² of cold-storage space and more than 36,000 pallet positions.

In the new facility, Sierra Cold utilizes energy-saving systems such as Evapcold LCR and a Budzar modular engine room. Narrow aisles and raised ceiling heights maximize density, decreasing the facility’s footprint and increasing storage capacity. Ti Cold worked with Sierra Supply Chain Services and Penta Properties to design and build the temperature-controlled facility.

“This project continues the growth and expansion of our development footprint and is yet another example of market demand advancing cold chain infrastructure investment across North America,” said Sam Tippmann, president and CEO of Ti Cold.

New Zealand Cold-Storage Business Acquired

Lineage Logistics LLC acquired New Zealand’s Cold Storage Nelson Ltd. (CSN). In announcing the acquisition, Lineage noted in a release that CSN is responsible for advances in energy efficiency by using advanced process control and design to ensure minimal usage and sophisticated purchasing of energy.

“CSN has industry-leading skills in inventory control, compliance and traceability,” said Jeff Rivera, Lineage’s global chief operations officer. “CSN’s facilities, combined with our technology and innovation, will assist New Zealand customers to navigate increasing supply-chain demands in New Zealand and internationally.”

According to Lineage, expanding its footprint in Asia-Pacific through New Zealand — a major primary produce-exporting nation — has been a long-term strategic goal for the company. Lineage has integrated assets in Auckland, Tauranga, Hawkes Bay, Nelson, Christchurch, Timaru and Dunedin in New Zealand.

Cold-Storage Facility Planned for South Carolina

A facility under development will integrate cold-storage solutions with ocean transit and drayage, refrigerated inland trucking, blast/quick freezing, USDA meat inspections and boxing/repacking. Performance Team, a Maersk Co., plans to open a cold-storage facility in Charleston, S.C., in the first quarter of 2023 to serve the import/export market.

According to Maersk, the facility will have a 20,000 ft² repack room designated for value-added service to the retail sector. RL Cold is the cold-storage developer, and Primus, a company that specializes in cold-storage construction, is the Charleston-based builder. According to Maersk Co., the facility will be certified LEED Gold and have a CO₂ cascade refrigeration system.

Cold-Storage Facility Opening in Jacksonville

FlexCold opened a $50 million cold-storage facility in Jacksonville, Fla., in August and is already considering expanding the site.

The 150,000 ft² facility includes more than 25,000 pallet positions with a 50’ clearance, blast freezing capabilities at 12 loads per day (or nearly 300 pallets) and a 38°F cold dock. FlexCold says it could double the size of the operation in the future.

FlexCold plans to employ 60 to 70 workers in the automation-heavy facility. The company plans on focusing primarily on protein and poultry exports and seafood imports at the location.