United States Cold Storage plans 50 new jobs
By Rochelle Moore
Published in News on July 7, 2016 1:46 PM
WARSAW -- United States Cold Storage plans to create 50 jobs in Duplin County and invest $21.6 million in an expansion of its warehouse and distribution facility there.
The jobs will be created during the next five years, and the Warsaw company is set to receive state incentives tied to the project.
"United States Cold Storage is a leading logistics service provider to our state's consumer foods industry, and this expansion has far-reaching benefits for Duplin County and beyond," said Gov. Pat McCrory, in an announcement of the planned expansion. "The continued growth and success of this 127-year-old company means good jobs for our economy."
State incentives, which make the project possible, include a performance based One North Carolina Fund grant up to $120,000 and a $300,000 N.C. Department of Commerce building reuse grant.
The New Jersey-based company, founded in 1889, started as the American Ice Company. U.S. Cold Storage, a leader in refrigerated storage and logistics, has 36 locations across the country and employs nearly 2,500 people.
The company's three North Carolina sites, in Warsaw, Lumberton and Marshville, employ close to 70 workers. The Warsaw facility, on Bruce Costin Road, opened in Duplin County in 1996, expanded in 2006 and employs 45 people, said Chad Simendinger, general manager.
"It will be an expansion to the existing warehouse," Simendinger said. "It's an exciting growth opportunity for the company and the employees."
The local workforce primarily includes warehouse operators, including some who are certified to operate a forklift.
The new employees will likely need some experience in warehouse distribution, Simendinger said. A timeline of when employees will be added, during the next five years, has not been determined.
U.S. Cold Storage plans to add employees in logistics and distribution, customer care, management and other skilled areas. The expanded workforce will lead to an annual payroll of more than $1.5 million.
"We greatly appreciate the efforts of the state, county and local community," said Jesse Hooks, U.S. Cold Storage regional vice president. "The successful collaboration helps us to maintain and grow our refrigerated warehouse and business operations in Duplin County."
The project became a reality through partnerships involving the N.C. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, N.C. General Assembly, N.C. Community College System, NCWorks, Duplin County, the Duplin County Economic Development Commission and the Town of Warsaw.
"Consumer foods and beverage manufacturing is a $20 billion industry in North Carolina, and logistics providers like United States Cold Storage are critical to our efforts to keep this economic driver growing," said N.C. Commerce Secretary John Skvarla III.
"About 35 percent of the products this company handles are destined for overseas markets, which helps connect North Carolina-produced foods to hungry consumers around the world."
U.S. Cold Storage is a wholly owned subsidiary of John Swire and Sons, a global logistics provider, headquartered in London.