Agri-Food Central Ltd. and CentrePort Canada announced the consolidation and expansion of Agri‐Food’s Canadian operations at the Bison Transport warehouse located on the footprint of Manitoba’s inland port. The expanded operations include the launching of a new “foods division” to promote, develop and distribute foods and beverages along the NASCO corridor to and from Mexico.
CentrePort Canada initiated discussions with Bison Transport after becoming aware that Agri-Food was interested in consolidating operations at a single site that would provide a central location, access to multiple railway carriers and enough space to centralize and expand its operations. Bison’s 235,000-square-foot warehouse features interior cross‐dock facilities for moving goods from truck to rail and vice versa.
“This was a strategic decision for Agri-Food Central,” says David Nyznyk, director of supply chain management. “Locating at CentrePort Canada provides us with a great location and the best truck, rail and port selection in North America. The Bison warehouse gives us the space we need to increase efficiency and ultimately grow our operations by adding new products and increasing shipments.”
“Congratulations to Agri-Food Central and Bison Transport on this new arrangement,” says Diane Gray, president and chief executive officer of CentrePort Canada. “One of our main jobs is to bring together businesses that would benefit from locating at CentrePort. Agri‐Food is demonstrating a tremendous vision for growth that will benefit Manitoba and western Canada, and we are excited to be a part of their development.”
Agri-Food Central’s operations involve moving grains, seeds and pulses from western Canada to Mexico and Latin America, and managing the inbound movement of goods originating in Mexico. The new “foods division” will help the company bring additional products into its supply chain – products such as the recently‐introduced AvoOil, an avocado oil produced in Mexico exclusively for Agri‐Food.
“While our core competency is in moving packed grains, seeds and pulses, we see opportunities for growth in fresh, frozen and value-added agri-food products,” Nyznyk says. “Our plan is to build volumes and leverage existing infrastructure and rates to attract freight from other industries.”
