he 291,000 sq. ft. cold storage facility will be solar-ready and target LEED-certification, delivering significant sustainability benefits to customers
Oliver Davis-Urman, Yukon Real Estate Partners; Byron Alvarez, Flora Food Group; Ronnie Gomes, Flora Food Group; Axel Anderson, Yukon Real Estate Partners; Mark Winter-Gitelson, Yukon Real Estate Partners; Jim Beach, Flora Food Group; Marty Khait, Yukon Real Estate Partners; Steven Majich, BGO; Kevin Coleman, CJ Logistics America; Ken Heller, CJ Logistics America; Kunal Sakhuja, BGO
BGO, a leading global real estate investment management firm and a leader in cold storage real estate, and Yukon Real Estate Partners (YREP), a national cold storage developer, have broken ground on a new cold storage warehouse in New Century, Kansas, just 30 miles outside of Kansas City. The 291,000 square foot facility, expected to open in Q3 2025, is a bespoke solution for CJ Logistics America, who has leased 100% of the building with a majority of the space dedicated to Flora Food Group (previously Upfield), global branded food champion. The New Century cold storage warehouse is designed to serve fast-growing and sophisticated supply chain demands and will feature custom Alta EXPERT refrigeration systems, rail service, and innovative sustainability solutions.
“The demand for modern, sustainable cold storage infrastructure continues to grow at a tremendous pace, and projects like the New Century Cold Storage warehouse deliver critical infrastructure and competitive advantages to our tenants who serve regional and global markets for their goods,” said Kevin Rivest, Managing Partner, BGO. “The ability to deliver vast cold storage warehousing and distribution efficiencies coupled with clean and efficient energy usage are clear differentiators for our present and future tenants. These discerning tenants recognize the value that modern, temperature-controlled facilities can bring to their operations, enabling them to better serve their customers.”
“We were able to provide CJ Logistics America and Flora Food Group with an innovative and sustainability-driven solution by strategically locating the New Century facility adjacent to Flora Food Group’s production plant while further driving efficiencies by connecting the two buildings through a planned above-ground, conveyor bridge,” said Axel Anderson, Director of Development for YREP. “Once completed, the conveyer bridge will allow finished products to be delivered directly into the New Century warehouse for cold storage. This feature will take trucks off the road and increase operational efficiencies for both Flora Food Group and CJ Logistics America.”
“CJ Logistics America is continually looking for ways to better serve our customers. This includes expanding our geographical footprint, utilizing the latest in supply chain technologies and finding innovative ways to meet their needs. This state-of-the-art facility accomplishes all three of those things simultaneously,” said Kevin Coleman, CEO of CJ Logistics America. “We are excited to take yet another step in growing our cold chain capabilities in a critical region and are looking forward to a long and fruitful partnership with Flora Food Group.”
The project will have a direct connection to the BNSF Railway, the largest freight railroad in the United States. The BNSF Railway is among the top transporters of intermodal freight in North America with three transcontinental lines that provide rail connections between the western and eastern United States. The project will include a direct rail spur into the warehouse, which will allow customers to realize operational efficiencies and savings on their overall logistics costs with less environmental emissions.
Ideally positioned less than four miles from Interstate 35, and 11 miles from the BNSF Railway intermodal facility, the warehouse is strategically located with approximately 85% of the United States reachable within two days either by highway, rail, or air.
About BGO
BGO is a leading, global real estate investment management advisor and a globally-recognised provider of real estate services. BGO serves the interests of more than 750 institutional clients with approximately $83 billion USD of assets under management (as of June 30, 2024) and expertise in the asset management of office, industrial, multi-residential, retail and hospitality property across the globe. BGO has offices in 27 cities across thirteen countries with deep, local knowledge, experience, and extensive networks in the regions where we invest in and manage real estate assets on behalf of our clients in primary, secondary and co-investment markets.
BGO is a part of SLC Management, the institutional alternatives and traditional asset management business of Sun Life.
The assets under management shown above includes real estate equity and mortgage investments managed by the BGO group of companies and their affiliates, and as of 1Q21, includes certain uncalled capital commitments for discretionary capital until they are legally expired and excludes certain uncalled capital commitments where the investor has complete discretion over investment.
For more information, please visit www.bgo.com
About CJ Logistics America
CJ Logistics provides integrated global supply chain services, maximizing customer value through continuous improvement and innovation. Currently, CJ Logistics operates technology-driven logistics businesses at 280 bases in 40 countries around the world. With a focus on social responsibility and sustainability through growth with customers and communities, CJ Logistics prioritizes the well-being of the end consumer. CJ Logistics offers an integrated, one-stop SCM service platform with air and sea international freight forwarding, warehousing and transportation contract logistics, asset-based trucking, parcel and express delivery, and supply chain consulting. As a lead logistics partner (LLP), third-party logistics provider (3PL) and supply chain consultant, CJ Logistics helps customers leverage supply chain management as a competitive advantage, reducing total system costs, transforming business processes, improving service, and facilitating growth and change.
For information on available space, contact Gregg Gill at gregg.gill@cjlogisticsamerica.com
About Yukon Real Estate Partners
Yukon Real Estate Partners is a fully integrated real estate investment and development company focused on developing and acquiring cold storage and food logistics-related assets. As a first mover in modern cold storage development, Yukon identified a significant shortage in supply coupled with rising demand for cold storage space among users of varying sizes and stages of growth. To address this imbalance, Yukon set out to bolster America’s food supply chain by constructing new state-of-the-art projects and renovating and modernizing existing cold storage facilities.
Yukon’s multidisciplinary team has 60 cumulative years of experience across diverse backgrounds, including development, asset management, finance, and acquisition. As an industry leader focusing on tenant and customer partnerships and cold storage advocacy, Yukon provides comprehensive expertise in site search, selection, due diligence, design and construction, along with cold storage user advisory through its affiliated company, FindColdStorage.com.
Founded in 2018, Yukon Real Estate Partners headquarters in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit yrep.com or email info@yrep.com.
About Flora Food Group
Global branded food champion Flora Food Group offers the next generation of delicious, natural, nutritious food. Our products are more affordable and more sustainable than their dairy equivalents. We offer consumers a compelling choice in four growing categories: butters and spreads, creams, liquids and cheeses. We hold leadership positions in many of the 100 countries we operate in, with iconic brands including Flora, Becel+ProActiv, BlueBand, Country Crock, I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter, Rama, and Violife, together with our local brands and Professional business. We have 150+ years of heritage, deep R&D expertise and a relentless commitment to delivering delicious, nutritious food. We own 14 manufacturing sites across five continents. Flora Food Group is headquartered in Amsterdam (Netherlands) and employs ~4,800 people; the company reported net sales of EUR 3.3 billion in 2023, making it the global leader in plant-based food. For more information, visit https://www.florafoodgroup.com/.
