KANSAS CITY, Mo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Vertical Cold Storage, a developer and operator of temperature-controlled distribution centers sponsored by real estate investment firm Platform Ventures, held a groundbreaking for its Kansas City multi-modal distribution site today. The facility is scheduled to be operational by the end of 2024 and employ up to 130 full-time team members.
“Vertical Cold Storage is excited to deliver the first facility in Kansas City to offer the value-added services of blast freezing, case picking, and expedited intermodal transportation solutions adjacent to the CPKC intermodal terminal. Kansas City is an excellent location for customers interested in reducing their carbon footprint and transportation expense by leveraging new intermodal capacity for import/export or domestic transportation needs,” said West Hutchison, President and CEO of Vertical Cold Storage.
“Most cold storage operators are moving away from value added services like blast freezing and case picking, but our team of life-long cold storage operators embrace these complexities and are looking forward to utilizing our best-in-class processes, IT solutions, robotic material handling equipment and AI technology to provide efficient and safe service to our customers.”
The site, located adjacent to the CPKC intermodal terminal in south Kansas City, MO, will have 300,000+ sq. ft, ~50,000 pallet positions, state-of-the-art blast freezing technology and four rooms convertible to -20° F. The building design and construction utilize innovative materials and systems that reduce energy consumption. In addition to the site’s adjacency to CPKC’s intermodal terminal, it is centrally located within 30 miles of the BNSF, Union Pacific, and Norfolk Southern terminals, enabling intermodal access to or from anywhere in North America from the heartland of the USA.
Primus Builders is the lead contractor for the project, which is expected to employ 150 workers during the construction.
“The Vertical Cold team has collaborated closely with our partners and the Kansas City government to develop an advanced multi-modal center, effectively addressing the supply chain challenges of our customers. This facility supports sustainability within the community and environmental friendliness, all while delivering lasting value to our investors. As proud Kansas City natives, we are thrilled to see the initial Vertical Cold build in our backyard,” said Ryan Anderson, Co-President & Co-Founder of Platform Ventures.
About Vertical Cold Storage
Vertical Cold Storage is an industry leader in delivering reliable, flexible, and cost-effective cold storage and logistics solutions for the food and beverage industry. We are committed to giving our customers the competitive edge they need to consistently thrive in the complex and ever-evolving business environment of perishables. We offer temperature-controlled cold storage warehousing and distribution solutions in the cities and surrounding areas of Chicago, Dallas, Omaha, Charlotte, Miami, and more. Our services are backed by a goal-oriented team of industry veterans and cutting-edge technology with a singular focus on quality results and excellent customer service. Vertical Cold is focused on acquiring and integrating existing and developing greenfield cold storage facilities and providing a consistent customer experience across our entire platform. More information is available at www.verticalcold.com.
About Platform Ventures
Platform Ventures is an SEC registered private investment firm targeting attractive and scalable sector-focused investments within real estate, infrastructure, and real estate credit. Platform Ventures opportunistic investment strategies aim to take advantage of complex situations, pricing dislocations and asset inefficiencies in all market conditions. The Firm invests selectively across the capital structure in direct acquisitions, joint ventures, recapitalizations, and reorganizations. Platform Investments, which is owned by Platform Ventures, manages over $3.1 billion of assets under management1 on behalf of institutional investors, family offices and high net worth investors. Information about Platform Ventures is available at www.platformv.com.
- As of June 30, 2023. This includes assets managed by our affiliates who are not registered investment advisers, and this amount does not represent Regulatory Assets Under Management as defined by the SEC. SEC registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training.
