The company is currently in a big growth mode with five projects in the works.“Kennett will also be adding two new eight-pallet avocado ripening rooms with space for another six ripening rooms,” Manfredi said. “This will be in addition to our current eight 24-pallet ripening rooms. We feel the smaller rooms can handle smaller orders our customer are requesting.”
The site work at the company’s Pedricktow, NJ location is also complete and ready for an additional 10,000 pallet positions, with all electric and refrigeration infrastructure in place.
“Once our Kennett expansions are finished, we will move immediately to construct space for an additional 2,000 pallet positions bringing the total to 8,000 pallets and add another 15,000 square feet of packing area,” Manfredi said. “The construction of the additional 8,000 pallet positions will start once we have secured a new customer for this space.”
Since the Port of Delaware is one of the closest ports to both the Kennett Square and Pedricktown operations, Manfredi Cold Storage’s sister company, Inland Transportation, is very efficient and cost effective in moving cargo from the waterfront to the facilities.
“As more product comes into the Delaware river ports, there is the opportunity to provide products and services to an expanded retail base,” said Rob Wharry, director of operations for the company. “The produce business had become much more driven by the needs of the retail market and developing additional product availability will allow sustained growth.”
Frankie Manfredi Jr., who is a key member of the team, noted Delaware River Ports have focused its efforts on being more efficient lately, moving the increased volumes of cargo being sent to the region.
“An emphasis has been placed on the ability to inspect and clear cargo at a faster rate and with more volume than ever before,” he said. “Increased visibility in the terminal systems with regard to container locations and status have also given us the ability to better anticipate product availability and put us in a position to move product off the ports sometimes within hours or even minutes of it becoming available.”
The secret to success in this business comes down to having dedicated people, the elder Manfredi said.
“It’s also important to be cost effective and provide great service,” he said.
“We at Manfredi Cold Storage are always looking for procedures to optimize truck loading and working with our customers to target inefficiencies in all of our processes.”
