Nordic Cold Storage has announced the grand opening of the first phase of its state-of-the-art storage and blast facility, located just minutes from the Port of Savannah.
The site has over 200,000 square-feet of convertible temperature-controlled storage space and is capable of blasting more than 10 million pounds of product, ranging from fresh poultry to produce, per week. This $30 million facility currently employs 150 workers, but Nordic plans to start a second phase by the end of the year, which will mirror the existing infrastructure. The cold storage warehouse began receiving its first shipments this month.
“Nordic’s announcement extends the Georgia Ports Authority’s power to support Georgia’s vital agricultural industry, in particular, our poultry producers,” said Curtis Foltz, Georgia Ports Authority’s Executive Director. “The Port of Savannah handles nearly 40 percent of the nation’s containerized poultry exports, supplied largely by Georgia’s farms. Quality providers like Nordic will give shippers more cost effective options for moving refrigerated commodities to and from international markets.”
As the second busiest export facility in the U.S., the Port of Savannah contributes significantly to promoting American businesses in the global marketplace. Last year alone, the GPA saw a 3.9% increase in refrigerated cargo exports, totaling nearly 108,000 TEUs, or twenty-foot equivalent container units.
“Our Savannah facility is a reflection of Nordic’s commitment to meet the temperature-controlled supply chain requirements that our customers want today and will need tomorrow,” said Don Schoenl, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nordic. "Our facility is located at I-95 and Jimmy DeLoach Parkway, only six miles from the Port of Savannah, and provides our customers convenient access to the port and interstate highways."
Ross Maple, Nordic’s Director of Business Strategy said the project was made possible through the support and pro-business attitude of Nordic’s partners at the State Department of Economic Development, the Savannah Economic Development Authority, the Georgia Ports Authority, Georgia Power, Georgia Quick Start, and the City of Pooler.
“Right now, we have more demand for refrigerated warehousing than we have facilities. Nordic’s commitment to build additional off-terminal freezer and temperature-controlled cold storage capacity, along with the Georgia Ports Authority’s ongoing work to expand on-terminal capacity for refrigerated cargo, will strengthen Georgia’s position in the marketplace,” said Foltz.
Georgia Ports Authority’s Garden City Terminal currently has 64 refrigerated cargo racks online. The GPA is adding an additional 20 racks this spring, allowing for the accommodation of 2,016 containers. In the last seven years, refrigerated cargo exports through the Port of Savannah have increased 130 percent.
“These numbers show the extent to which commerce has chosen Georgia as the gateway to global trade. The Georgia Ports Authority’s economic impact extends well beyond state lines. Efficient access to world markets through Georgia’s deepwater ports means our customers are poised for progress,” said Robert Jepson, Georgia Ports Authority Board Chairman.
More than 80 cold storage facilities around the state rely on the Port of Savannah, with a combined storage capacity greater than 16 million square feet. “These private investments help to grow Savannah’s market reach, to attract a greater base of cold storage commodities, and to make Savannah a hub for refrigerated cargo,” said Cliff Pyron, Georgia Ports Authority’s Chief Commercial Officer.
“As a homegrown Georgia company, logistics solutions providers like Nordic help best illustrate why our state is the logistics hub of the Southeast, with growing prominence nationwide,” said Chris Cummiskey, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development.
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