KENNETT SQUARE, PA — After long and careful consideration and planning, by the end of 2020, Manfredi Cold Storage will be operating a new 100,000-square-foot refrigerated warehouse near New Jersey seaport facilities on the Delaware River.

Groundwork on the facility’s footprint was under way this spring.Frank Manfredi and his daughter Jackie Manfredi, who is an account manager for Manfredi Logistics.

Frank Manfredi, president of the firm, said this construction in Pedricktown, NJ, is the first phase of a 600,000-square-foot facility that will be completed in years to come, as the need matures.

“If Kennett Square is any indication, we would have 200,000 square feet in less than nine years. We would feel successful if we went from 100,000 to 200,000 in less than nine years. We are looking at chilled and frozen business, as well as produce.”

Manfredi noted the site is a great strategic location for trucking, being located near the Commodore Barry Bridge -— which leads into Interstate 95 and Philadelphia — and the Delaware Memorial Bridge, which is a southbound extension of the New Jersey Turnpike into Delaware and points south. Of course, the turnpike gives a straight shot into New York and New England.

As Manfredi worked to begin the Pedricktown construction, “it became clear that we had to have more space here in Kennett Square,” he said.

Thus, the firm has added another 30,000 square feet of refrigerated space beyond the 70,000-square-foot extension completed a year ago. Now the home site of Manfredi Cold Storage offers the perishables trade 400,000 square feet of cold storage. With the latest expansion, “We’ll have 30,000 pallet spots.”

The Kennett Square facility has a rail spur serving its warehouse. The use of rail there “comes and goes, depending on truck prices.”

The Manfredi family roots are in Kennett Square’s famous mushroom business. The small town is about 15 miles north of the Port of Wilmington, DE.

“There has always been this perception about the (long) distance from our warehouse to the Port of Wilmington.” But, Manfredi noted, “we are as close, if not closer to Wilmington than any major competitor. That said, we’re running out of space in Kennett Square and need another growth opportunity. Until two years ago, we thought we would finish out in Kennett Square. But we had the opportunity to buy a great location in New Jersey,” which was ideal “with all of the waterfront development, we can offer capacity to new and existing customers.”

In Pedricktown, Manfredi will be competing for warehousing services offered by a number of competitors, but the new site will have the future availability of rail service.

The Pedricktown facility will have 30,000 square feet dedicated to a repack service operation and four rooms with a total of 4,400 pallet positions. “We will offer the same services as here” in Kennett Square. “We are starting small and will find good labor there” in New Jersey.

Manfredi considers the quality of work force the most important of three basic keys to success in his business. The expansion to New Jersey gives him the opportunity to give good workers in Kennett Square more opportunities to develop their careers.

The second key factor to success in cold storage is facility design. Manfredi warehouses are a “low density” design which creates high throughput by allowing quick turnaround in truck loading.

Third, he said, “the software system literally drives the business. Having spent $1 million in our proprietary software it has the capacity to move product with little operator error. An easy interface allows us the get trucks in and out of the facility very, very quickly.”

Such efficiencies enable Manfredi to handle New Jersey customers’ overflow “or became a partner with them in their growth.”

Manfredi said “Our growth has always involved stepping outside our comfort zone. But we don’t want to lose sight of what we do here. But we will be able to continue our growth and serve other customers. My brother, John, who is my partner in this deal, supports this 100 percent. If he didn’t, this wouldn’t be taking place.”

Frank Manfredi was asked about his concern about increasing cold storage competition in the Delaware Valley.

He handed over his business card and asked, “Do you see anything unusual?”

The home phone number of the company president was listed on the card.