SAVANNAH — Nordic Logistics and Warehousing has doubled capacity at its Savannah location, holding a ribbon cutting last month for a 200,000-square-foot cold storage and blast freezing facility.
"Exactly three years ago, Nordic opened its doors here in Savannah to give our customers the logistical advantages that come with one of America’s most efficient ports, combined with the superior connectivity of Interstates 95 and 16," said Don Schoenl, president and CEO of Nordic.
Nordic, a member of AGRO Merchants Group LLC, opened its initial 200,000-square-foot cold storage warehouse in Savannah in 2013. Nordic’s phase 1 facility has exported more than a half million tons of frozen food since then.
"Nordic’s expansion here is a powerful endorsement of the Port of Savannah’s expertise in handling refrigerated cargo, and its ability to meet the demands of producers as well as a growing consumer market across the U.S. Southeast," said Griff Lynch, incoming executive director at the Georgia Ports Authority.
Nordic’s phase 2 increases employment by approximately 70 people at its cold storage warehouse at Interstate 95 and Jimmy Deloach Parkway, 6 miles from the port. The site’s second building can hold more than 20,000 tons of cargo. Ross Maple, director of business strategy for Nordic, said the added space will bring the company’s total Savannah capacity to almost 50,000 tons.
"To be able to offer companies access to the world via our ports is one of our major economic development selling points as we recruit businesses to Georgia," Georgia Economic Development Commissioner Chris Carr said. "Nordic’s commitment to Savannah with the expansion of their cutting-edge temperature-controlled storage facility is a testament to the impact the Port of Savannah has around the globe."
Noting service at the port, including fast turn times for trucks carrying refrigerated containers, Maple said Nordic is committed to Savannah.
"With the port’s deepening project, post-Panamax ships and continued growth of the area, we are building not only for our current customers, but our future growth and new commodities as well," he said.
Lynch said private sector investment such as Nordic’s supports American growers of produce and proteins.
"Savannah handles 40 percent of all frozen poultry sent overseas, more than any other port in the U.S.," Lynch said. "Nordic’s announcement today, along with on-terminal improvements, positions Savannah to continue serving as the export gateway for refrigerated cargo in the U.S. Southeast."
The Georgia Ports Authority’s Garden City container terminal features 104 refrigerated cargo racks and 738 plug-ins for containers on chassis.