AGRO Merchants Group, Atlanta, purchased a newly-constructed cold store in Dublin, Ireland. The site, located at Food Central, is a dedicated 280-acre food park situated beside the airport and is just a short drive from the port. As part of this transaction, AGRO will lease part of the facility to UK-based Oakland International. AGRO will commence operations at the new site beginning in October.

The facility was constructed in 2018 and fitted for both chilled and frozen storage. An expansion is currently in process, with another expansion already being planned and scheduled for completion in May 2020. Upon completion, the total facility size will be approximately 81,800 square feet, with significant additional land available for future expansion.

“This is an important investment for AGRO,” says Carlos Rodriguez, chief executive officer of AGRO Merchants Group. “First, we secured a position in Dublin Food Central, which is an ideal location for both domestic and imported products, with a vision to expand our operation. The transaction also secures our long-term position in a growing food import market, and enhances AGRO’s capabilities in terms of delivering value-added services. Our new Dublin location, together with existing operations elsewhere in the Republic of Ireland along with Northern Ireland and England, represent an unmatched cold storage network in the region. We look forward to the new opportunities this creates for our customers. We also look forward to collaborating with Dean Attwell and the entire Oakland International team on ways to better serve the marketplace.”

“Oakland International launched in Ireland in 2009, and the move to Food Central in 2018 has allowed substantial business growth,” says Dean Attwell, chief executive officer of Oakland International. “The opportunity to work alongside AGRO was compelling, allowing us to double our space for future growth as well as substantial collaboration opportunities, which will allow us both to serve our respective customers’ needs with innovative supply chain solutions. The Food Central site is a prime location that is zoned as a food park for food manufacturers in the future – all of whom will need quality supply chain partners.”