If you’re a current cold storage user and you have concluded that new construction is not the optimal solution for an expansion or relocation strategy, this installment of Farm to Frozen will provide an overview of navigating the current leasing environment. This guide can be helpful if you have determined that your occupancy simply cannot wait for new development and also can be helpful if your occupancy requires a shorter term length that is not right for a new-build solution.
Let's begin, as most of the previous articles have, by completing a thorough assessment of what your food and beverage business needs from cold storage. Consider factors such as location, size, required temperatures, access to labor, and proximity to suppliers and customers. Also, think about future growth: will the property be able to accommodate your business as it expands? Will you need intermodal access? Considering the scarcity of available cold storage space, it may make sense to rank and prioritize these characteristics so that you know ahead of time where compromises might be allowable and where they may not be.