OXNARD, CA - As a trade writer and lover of words, I can tell you that “mega” is not one that appears often. However, Mission Produce is changing that as the grand opening of its new mega center in Laredo, Texas, on September 29, was announced. The opening of this forward distribution center (FDC) and third-party logistics (3PL) facility comes in celebration of the company’s first anniversary of its initial public offering (IPO) and is strategically positioned to enhance customer service, increase flexibility, and expand capabilities for Mission’s customers.
“Opening a 12th distribution center in Laredo improves our access throughout North America, meaning we can serve our customers with ripe, high-quality fruit more reliably and efficiently than ever before,” said Stephen Fink, Vice President of North American Sales. “The capacity of the facility, in addition to its cold storage and ripening capabilities, provide greater flexibility and added value for our customers, while also meeting their importing and distribution needs.”
The mega center was designed and built by A M King, an integrated design-build firm with expertise in food distribution and cold storage facilities, according to a press release.
To help optimize the supply chain for its customers, Mission’s new facility was constructed with the capability to provide packing, bagging, ripening, trucking, cold storage, cross docking, inspections, and drayage. The facility’s location will also allow many customers to pick up product at the border, positively impacting importing costs and logistics, while also facilitating a more efficient supply chain.
“We expect the industry to benefit from an additional advanced mega distribution center in Laredo, one of the nation’s most significant ports of entry for imported goods,” said Ben Barnard, Vice President of Global Partnerships and Business Development. “We aim to propel the industry forward by streamlining importation logistics and expediting transportation times from the border.”
Barnard will oversee all Laredo FDC operations for Mission.
Other features of the multi-temperature zone facility include:
- 10 state-of-the-art ripening rooms with the capacity for 42 pallets each
- 81,000 square feet of storage space with the potential of 6,000 pallet positions of cold storage
- 36 refrigerated dock positions and four dry dock positions
- 900 staging and inspection positions
- Four coolers with 2,590 pallet positions
“I very much enjoyed collaborating with the Mission Produce team to identify complex challenges and offer innovative solutions that ultimately resulted in a unique, first-class, state-of-the-art avocado ripening and processing plant,” said Carl Morse, A M King’s Senior Project Manager.
The Laredo World Trade Port of Entry is the number three port nationwide by value and supported over 65,000 truckloads of fresh produce in 2020, of which more than 24,000 were avocados. Mission’s new FDC is certified by the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) to clear commodities crossing the border.
“Laredo is a major player in the produce and cold storage space, and we credit Mission Produce for leading the charge in driving the economy of our local community and bringing the industry’s top suppliers to the region,” said Pete Saenz, City of Laredo Mayor. “Following Mission, the city has received a total investment of about $120 million and the creation of more than 450 produce and cold storage jobs.”
Mission has hired 70 positions to date, with over 110 expected, once at full capacity. The new facility is located at 902 Nicolas D. Hachar Road in Laredo, Texas.
How will Mission’s new FDC boost its company growth? AndNowUKnow will bring you the answers.
