16Feb2011
Hanson Logistics to Invest $2MM in Decatur Fruit Processing Facility
Expansion Supports Dole Packaged Foods, Michigan Growers.
St. Joseph, Mich., Feb. 16, 2011 – Hanson Logistics announced today a $2,000,000 expansion to the company’s Decatur, Michigan facility used for cold storage, mixing and packaging by Dole Packaged Foods.
Hanson Logistics reached an extended lease and service support agreement with Dole Packaged Foods, which includes facility enhancements for higher volume fruit storage, mixing and packaging. Dole Packaged Foods utilizes the facility to mix frozen California fruit with Michigan fruit to reduce supply chain costs and better serve its customers. In addition to being positive economic news for southwest Michigan, the increased processing capacity will draw more from the Michigan agricultural community.
“This is certainly great news for the Michigan fruit growers, as well Hanson Logistics,” commented Andrew Janson, President of Hanson Logistics. “We’ve had the opportunity to work closely with Dole Packaged Foods during the past several years and to extend our agreement to 11 years is a great vote of confidence in all Hanson teammates and the Michigan infrastructure.”
Dole Packaged Foods is headquartered in Westlake Village, California with its Frozen Foods operations in Atwater, California and is a division of Dole Food Company, Inc. In addition to fresh fruits, Dole packages frozen foods such as blackberries, blueberries, dark sweet cherries, mixed berries, mixed fruit, pineapple, strawberries, raspberries, rhubarb, peaches, mango, tropical mixed fruit and wild blueberries.
“The team at Hanson Logistics provides the quality logistics support consistent with the Dole global brand,” said Jon Rodacy, Dole Packaged Foods Vice President & General Manager. “We look forward to our continuing partnership.”
Hanson Logistics network of Michigan warehouses will play a key role in supplying Dole-Michigan with much of the fruit utilized in their products. Located south of I-94 in a prime agricultural area, the Decatur facility has a capacity of 1.4 million cu. ft. that includes food-processing space. The frozen and refrigerated facility can accommodate 7,500 pallet positions configured for bulk and processed fruit and vegetables.
Decatur is one of eight Hanson Logistics temperature-controlled facilities in a network designed to support agricultural production and storage of food products, as well as high-velocity finished goods distribution for CPG companies.
