Stellar and Dot Foods, North America’s largest food industry redistributor, celebrated the groundbreaking of a new distribution center in Manchester, Tennessee, during a ceremony yesterday.

Stellar is the design-builder for the 179,000-square-foot greenfield project, which will expand Dot Foods’ Tennessee operations and create more than 250 new jobs within the first three years. Dot Foods has another distribution warehouse located in Dyersburg, Tennessee, which Stellar also designed and constructed in 2015.
 
 “Stellar and Dot Foods have been working together for more than 25 years. We’re delighted to be entrusted once again with helping Dot Foods achieve their current and future business goals,” said Daniel Stilling, Stellar’s project developer on the Dot Foods project. “In addition to installing an ammonia refrigeration system and state-of-the-art employee health clinic, we’re taking extra steps to design a flexible facility that can expand and remain functional as customer demand increases.”
 
The new facility will house a 78,000-square-foot ammonia refrigeration cold dock, freezer and cooler area and an 83,000-square-foot dry storage area. The $50.5 million project also includes 17,000 square feet of office and welfare space. It marks the 13^th distribution center for Dot Foods in the U.S.

An onsite, 1,700-square-foot health clinic will offer convenient, low-cost healthcare for Dot employees and their families. The health clinic includes exam rooms, an on-site lab and all the equipment necessary to provide basic medical care, lab work and immediate medical attention for acute injuries.
 
 “When we make the decision to establish a new Dot Foods distribution center, we do it to increase efficiency in our business and provide the best possible service to our customers,” said Joe Tracy, CEO of Dot Foods. “But the actual building is designed for our employees, and we strive to create the best work environment possible. Stellar’s team has performed excellent work for us in the past, and we’re excited to once again partner with them on our Manchester facility.”
 
 Completion of the Manchester distribution center is scheduled for fall 2023. The center will be located at 600 Manchester Industrial Parkway. Dot Foods Inc. carries 125,000 products from 1,020 food industry manufacturers.
 
About Stellar
Stellar is a fully integrated design, engineering, construction, refrigeration and mechanical services firm serving commercial, industrial and public sector markets across the United States and around the world. More than 800 Stellar employees worldwide create award-winning food processing plants, refrigerated warehouses, distribution centers, commercial buildings and military facilities. In addition to its Jacksonville, Florida, headquarters, Stellar operates nearly 50 support locations and offices throughout the United States, China and in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The company also serves Central and South America, Europe and India.