Company Set to Expand its First Facility in Jacksonville, FL, Offering More Than 350,000 Sq./Ft. of Cold Storage Space
Jacksonville, FL – January 25, 2023 – FlexCold, a leader in revolutionizing cold storage warehousing with end-to-end expertise across the cold chain spectrum, today announced the expansion of its first facility. The Jacksonville facility, which will span more than 350,000 square feet and offer 55,000 pallet positions, is strategically located three miles to the port and is centrally located to population growth centers.
The FlexCold-Jacksonville expansion is targeting construction to commence in the first quarter of 2023 with completion estimated to be in summer 2024. The expansion of FlexCold-Jacksonville will further enhance the company’s capabilities to service the growing import and export demand, as well as the strategic distribution services offerings to major population centers in the Southeastern US. Further, the expansion will allow FlexCold-Jacksonville to consolidate service offerings into a single location to minimize product movements and touches to reduce costs and damage. The Jacksonville City Council officially approved the economic development agreement Tuesday evening.
“We are excited to welcome the expansion of FlexCold-Jacksonville. This expansion means more jobs for our community and better support for our local businesses and transporters,” said Mayor Lenny Curry. “FlexCold-Jacksonville’s expansion is another example of the tremendous economic growth we are experiencing across sectors. I am proud to be a part of the business-friendly environment here in Jacksonville.”
As Florida’s number one container port, Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) provides accessibility to over 98 million consumers within one day’s drive and direct ocean services to 140 ports in 70 countries. FlexCold is within minutes of the Blount Island terminal, which recently completed its harbor deepening project that increased the water depth to 47 feet, allowing for larger ships and more frequent sailings.
“The investments that have been made in our port provide the capabilities for our region to efficiently accommodate growing consumer demand for fresh and frozen foods, including poultry and seafood,” said JAXPORT CEO Eric Green. “We are thrilled that FlexCold continues to grow their business in Jacksonville, attracting new cargo business and the jobs and economic impact it supports to our city and state.”
In total, FlexCold’s Jacksonville facility will offer the following:
- Over 350,000 square feet and over 55,000 pallet positions of chilled and frozen storage
- 51 bays and 115 reefer plug-ins
- Both cooling and freezing with temperatures ranging from -10 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit
- On-site blast freezing is available, with a capacity of up to 12 loads per day
- 100 local jobs to support economic growth
Additional FlexCold services include:
- USDA-approved export stamping, labeling, and exporting document preparation
- Container loading, unloading, and cross-docking
- Adaptive warehouse management system with customer portal
- Handling, slip sheeting, and case selection
- Domestic logistics services
As an organization, FlexCold’s primary competitive advantage comes from its ability to pair best-in-class-expertise across real estate, technology, and deep-operational insights helping to optimize the cold-storage process: from how the land is developed, to design of the building, and where and how food is stored and moved. Leveraging FlexCold leadership’s expertise, the company offers a modern design with innovative technology such as FLEXSPACE Mobile Racking and ALTA refrigeration as well as a strategic location and a unique team-oriented culture.
“We’re thrilled to have opened and to quickly expand our first FlexCold facility here in Jacksonville,” said FlexCold President, Craig Turner. “I am proud of our team and the systems we have in place that have helped us exceed our phase one occupancy projections. It is a testament to our strong leadership, our team, and community support.”
With its opening in late summer 2022, the company offered more than 150,000 square feet of space. The newest expansion more than doubles the overall building footprint to more than 350,000 square feet, bringing the total number of pallet positions to 55,000, up from the initial 25,000. With a keen eye and expertise on import and exporting capabilities, FlexCold-Jacksonville’s service offerings are ideal for poultry, seafood, meat, and frozen consumer-packaged goods.
“To have FlexCold already more than double their space here speaks volumes about their innovative company and the overall opportunity for growth in the Jacksonville region,” JAXUSA Partnership President Aundra Wallace said. “Our geographical location, strong partnership with JAXPORT and business-friendly environment are driving incredible growth in cold chain logistics and we look forward to FlexCold’s continued success here.”