Hanson Logistics announced a $2 million expansion to the company’s Decatur, Mich.-based 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. The increased processing capacity will draw more from the Michigan agricultural community.
“This is certainly great news for the Michigan fruit growers, as well as Hanson Logistics,” says Andrew Janson, president of the St. Joseph, Mich.-based company. “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.”
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 Interstate 94 in a prime agricultural area, the Decatur facility has a capacity of 1.4 million cubic feet 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. “The team at Hanson Logistics provides the quality logistics support consistent with the Dole global brand,” says Jon Rodacy, Dole Packaged Foods vice president and general manager. “We look forward to our continuing partnership.”
