Vertical Cold Storage recently broke ground on a new multi-modal distribution center in Kansas City, Missouri, expected to open in 2024.
“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,” West Hutchison, Vertical president and CEO, said in a news release. “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.
“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 embraces these complexities and is 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 facility will provide work for 130 full-time employees, the company added.
The site, located adjacent to the CPKC intermodal terminal in south Kansas City, will boast over 300,000 sq. ft. of storage space, approximately 50,000 pallet positions, state-of-the-art blast freezing technology, and four rooms convertible to minus-20 degrees Fahrenheit. 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 U.S.
“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,” said Ryan Anderson, co-president of Platform Ventures, a real estate investment firm that is backing the project.
“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.”
