Nearly all food produced or imported in the U.S. passes through a distribution center before it reaches consumer dinner tables and with Kansas City’s central location and room to grow, it’s a key player in the cold storage space.
Commercial real estate experts say as much as 100 million square feet of freezer and cooler space will be needed in the coming years. According to CBRE, e-commerce’s expansion will fuel the need for more warehouse space, as will the chaning economy, population migration and the desire for “safety stock” onshore. The nationwide real estate firm lists the Kansas City region among its top industrial markets, expected to continue experiencing growth due to shippers looking for inland ports with easy air and rail connectivity.