United States Cold Storage Inc. (USCS) plans to complete a 107,200 square-foot addition at its Lebanon, IN, public refrigerated warehouse, northwest of Indianapolis, by spring 2025. In tandem, Gorton’s Seafood, Gloucester, MA, will build an attached seafood processing facility, set to open in late 2025 and employ up to 160 people.
“We set a goal to be a strategic provider and build long-term production support capabilities with specific customers to our portfolio,” says David Butterfield, USCS Executive Vice President. “Today is just one wonderful step in fulfilling that goal. Gorton’s and USCS have a 40-year relationship of working together as a distribution network, and this greatly enhances that relationship in everything from raw material management to delivering finished goods. It has been a great collaboration of efforts from both groups to truly create and design a state-of-the-art production facility with an automated warehouse to support all Gorton’s functions.”
“This year marks 175 years of Gorton’s spreading the goodness of the sea to households across America, so it’s fitting that in 2024 we can share this incredibly exciting news,” adds Kurt Hogan, Gorton’s Seafood CEO. “Our investment in this new facility, in partnership with US Cold, will allow us to continue our mission of making quality seafood accessible to everyone.”
Hogan said Gorton’s flagship facility in Gloucester will continue to serve as the company’s primary production hub while the new Lebanon facility will drive further growth with incremental production capabilities and distribution efficiencies.
“We are excited to welcome Gorton’s Seafood to Indiana and are confident they will find success here in partnership with United States Cold Storage,” said Ann Lathrop, chief strategy officer at the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC). “United States Cold Storage is advancing the state’s reputation as a logistics leader, helping manufacturers deliver essential products – from food to cars to life-saving medicines – to customers across the country and around the world.”
Designed to Deliver
Adam Ashley, USCS Area Director-Midwest, says the two companies considered the warehouse and attached-plant proposition for nearly two years.
“After a facility tour—and considering Lebanon’s location, land availability, and our nationwide ColdShare Consolidation (less-than-truckload shipping) program—we knew that USCS Lebanon is the right place. Gorton’s has been a key partner for more than 40 years, and this demonstrates the strength of that partnership.”
Specifically, the USCS Lebanon warehouse addition will include 15,100 pallet positions of freezer storage and 2,400 pallets of dry storage.It will feature automated, very-narrow-aisle turret trucks passing into and out of storage areas. Ingredients and materials will be stored at USCS and transferred to Gorton’s as needed. Gorton’s will ship finished goods to USCS via conveyor, where turret trucks will take and place finished goods in storage. Ultimately, all shipping and receiving for Gorton’s will be the responsibility of USCS.
About United States Cold Storage
United States Cold Storage, Inc. (USCS), Camden, NJ, is a premier provider of public refrigerated warehousing (PRW) and related logistics services throughout the USA. With roots dating back to 1899, USCS has long served a diverse customer base with requirements ranging from primary storage to fully integrated third-party logistics. The company offers more than 406 million cubic feet of temperature-controlled warehouse and distribution space in 40 facilities located in 13 states including California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. USCS is the third largest PRW Logistics provider in North America. It is a subsidiary of the U.K.’s John Swire & Sons Ltd.