Dot Foods, North America’s largest food industry redistributor, has broken ground in Manchester, Tennessee for its 13th USA distribution center. It is scheduled to be up and running by the fall of 2023.
Jacksonville, Florida-headquartered Stellar is the design-builder for the 179,000-square-foot greenfield project, which will expand Dot’s Tennessee presence and create more than 250 jobs within the first three years of operation. 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 achieve their current and future business goals,” said Daniel Stilling, Stellar’s project developer at the site. “In addition to installing an ammonia refrigeration system and a 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 complex will feature 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 scope also includes 17,000 square feet of office and welfare space as well as a 1,700-square-foot, on-site health clinic.
“When we make a decision to establish a new distribution center, we do it to increase efficiency in our business and provide the best possible service to our customers,” said Joe Tracy, president and chief executive officer of Mount Sterling, Illinois-headquartered 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.”
The design of the building (see computer rendering above) will give Dot the ability to easily expand all warehouse and office spaces in future years to meet growing customer demand in the southeastern United States.
Longtime employee Anthony Soto will lead the Manchester facility. He joined Dot in 2008 as a warehouse specialist at the Burley, Idaho, distribution center before advancing to manage the warehouse and eventually assume the general manager role at Dot Foods Idaho. The US Air Force veteran has also helmed Dot’s Arizona distribution center.
Founded in 1960, Dot Foods serves all 50 states across the USA and more than 55 countries with a product offering of 125,000 items. The company’s Dot Transportation, Inc. (DTI) affiliate has already begun hiring truck drivers in the Manchester region.
