Seafrigo expands into South Florida

The Le Havre, France-based food logistics specialist will build and operate a 30,000-square-foot temperature controlled warehouse facility in the South Florida Logistics Center next to Miami International Airport and just 12 miles from PortMiami.    Seafrigo is expanding its global logistics services into the South Florida market with the opening of a new warehouse in Miami, the company said in a statement.
   The Le Havre, France-based food logistics specialist will build and operate a 30,000-square-foot temperature controlled warehouse facility in the South Florida Logistics Center next to Miami International Airport and just 12 miles from PortMiami.
   The company said it chose the Miami location in part because of the opening of the expanded Panama Canal in June.
   “It is with great pleasure to announce Seafrigo’s decision to open its location in Miami, FL. We feel that PortMiami and Miami International Airport are going to be key factors in the perishable logistic activity,” said Seafrigo CEO Stephane Desseigne. “Our vision of Miami is to be the gateway of Latin America, the Caribbean and beyond. Miami will directly benefit from the opening of the Panama Canal which will accelerate the shift of the US ocean TEU’s market share from the West coast to the East coast.”
   “Seafrigo’s choice to use PortMiami as a global gateway represents a growing trend,” added Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. “Perishables growth at the port has increased approximately 25%. Customers are taking notice that PortMiami can efficiently move refrigerated products to markets in Florida and the Southeastern U.S., as well as to Latin America and the Caribbean. This represents reducing time-to-market and lowering transportation costs.”
   James R. Hertwig, president and CEO of short line railroad operator Florida East Coast Railway said his company will provide rail service for Seafrigo’s volumes out of Miami.
   “As the only intermodal rail service along Florida’s east coast, Florida East Coast Railway is excited for the opportunity to provide our seamless rail service for Seafrigo’s cold chain traffic,” he said. “We have invested in infrastructure to support multi-modal shipping and global trade into and out of South Florida and our on-dock rail facility at PortMiami provides efficient and reliable intermodal rail service, allowing goods to reach 70 percent of the U.S. population within four days.”
   Seafrigo was represented by commercial real estate firm ComReal Miami in the transaction.