Florida-based United States Cold Storage Western Region manager Rod Noll says the company recently decided to expand their Fresno facility.
The $1.5 million,127,000sf addition will have approximately 4.5 million cubic feet of refrigerated storage space,20,000 racked pallet positions and additional 80 blast freezer positions.
A construction permit was issued April 1.
“New contracts with California Dairies Inc is helping to drive the expansion” says Noll. The diary co-op is ramping up production of dry milk products for export this year.”We happen to have plants around California where they have plants.”
The Fresno distribution plant already has 9.6 million cubic feet of cold space with temps ranging as low as -20F and 46,000 variable height pallets.
The expansion would approach a 50% increase. “We’re just north of a $60 million total investment in Fresno.” Noll says this is the third expansion of the facility since 2007.
“The central San Joaquin Valley continues to grow steadily. With this expansion, we will be able to meet the needs of our customers and their customers.”
The company serves the food industry with products ranging from dry milk powder,butter,whey frozen herbs, ice cream and frozen food entrees.
Besides Fresno US Cold Storage has a huge 20 million cubic feet operation in Tulare,the state dairy hub. Both Fresno and Tulare are on the Union Pacific line.
Noll oversees 12 locations for the company with some 468 employees with around 100 employees in Fresno alone.
Noll sees opportunity at several of its plants to co-locate food processors next door who might use the cold storage facility.Both Tulare and Fresno have available acreage they own next to their plants in a strategy to literally bring in business.
“I could tell from the recent Fresno Food Expo that there is quite a lot interest for companies to set up here.”
Expansion for US Cold Storage is coming company-wide after several years of reduced demand due to the recession. USCS president David Harlan says as a result “Manufacturers were reducing inventory levels and all of our clients were looking to control inventory and working capital. As a result, our occupancy levels dipped and our financial results were lower than anticipated.”
Writing a column in January – Harlan added”Three years later, I’m proud to say that as a result of maintaining our focus during a down time,we’ve improved our operating systems, expanded our customer base and improved our energy efficiency.”