Dutch Royals open NewCold’s automated warehouse in Georgia

McDonough, 10 June 2024 – NewCold, a global leader in advanced food logistics, officially opened its newest state-of-the-art facility in McDonough, Georgia. Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands formally inaugurated the new warehouse as part of their working visit to the United States. Dutch dignitaries, including ministers, the US Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Shefali Razdan Duggal, as well as Ambassador Birgitta Tazelaar of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, were in attendance.

Bram Hage, NewCold Founder and CEO said: “The entire NewCold team is honored to have Their Majesties inaugurate our facility. NewCold is proud to be among the cohort of innovative companies from the Netherlands growing in the United States and globally by offering solutions that make things better – for our customers, our people, and our planet.”
The opening ceremony was part of the Royal couple’s visit to Georgia, aimed at strengthening economic ties between the Netherlands and the United States. During their visit, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima toured the facility and ‘shipped’ the first official pallet. Following the program, the King and Queen met with industry leaders in the food sector, local partners, and more to discuss the global logistics landscape and the importance of resilient supply chains.

“The economic and cultural relationship between the Netherlands and the United States is incredibly strong. As a matter of fact, our economic ties support 35,000 jobs in Georgia alone. New Cold’s latest facility in Georgia is one example of how Dutch innovation combined with America’s entrepreneurial spirit can produce a thriving business environment,” said Dutch Ambassador Birgitta Tazelaar.

NewCold, founded in 2012 in the Netherlands, has grown rapidly over the last decade. The 85,000-pallet high-bay facility is the first dry goods warehouse in NewCold’s North American network, representing a significant milestone in the company’s mission to provide innovative and sustainable logistics solutions worldwide.

“The opening of the facility is a major step forward in modernizing our distribution network in partnership with NewCold,” said Deirdre Elter, Vice President, Customer Supply Chain and Logistics for Conagra Brands. “This state-of-the-art automated warehouse will play a critical role in Conagra’s ability to meet current and future commitments to customers and consumers.”

Jonas Swarttouw, NewCold Executive Vice President Commercial and Chairman North America said: “We are proud to expand our collaboration with Conagra to support their dry network in this important Southeast market. Our joint teams collaborated closely on the transition and startup.”
NewCold’s decision to locate a $333 million facility in McDonough is a testament to the growing importance of Georgia as a logistics hub and the strength of bilateral trade ties between the Netherlands and the US – and the state of Georgia in particular. The Netherlands and Georgia share a robust economic relationship, with Georgia being the Netherlands’ 10th largest US trade partner.
Hailed as the single-largest investment by a business in Henry County when announced in 2022, the NewCold facility is expected to boost local employment and contribute to the region’s economic development. There are already plans to expand the facility.

“We are working towards building an automated cold store on the site to support the supply chain of leading global frozen food companies,” noted Swarttouw. “The grand opening of NewCold’s automated supply chain facility is a great day for our citizens. The significance of this partnership also brought our first Head of State visit in our 203-year history with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima’s visit. NewCold has already made a positive impact in Henry County, and we look forward to growing our partnership,” said Henry County Development Authority Executive Director F. J. “Josh” Fenn.

The new warehouse is one of the most advanced in the world, featuring proprietary cutting-edge technology. The facility builds on NewCold’s partnership with Conagra Brands, one of North America’s leading branded food companies. The large-scale warehouse is now one of the most advanced facilities in Conagra’s network.

Our McDonough facility is the latest addition to NewCold’s network, leveraging advanced automation to provide 24/7 high-level service, adding greater resilience, sustainability, and efficiency to the food supply chain in the Southeast United States. McDonough is NewCold’s fourth facility in the United States.

About NewCold
Founded in 2012, NewCold is a rapidly growing global leader in advanced food logistics. We have a network of 18, mostly highly automated, warehouses with more than 1.4 million pallet positions in 10 countries. And a growing transport fleet of over 200 trucks and 500 trailers. Led by Founder and CEO Bram Hage and backed by shareholder Westport Capital Partners, NewCold provides end-to-end supply chain solutions to leading food companies powered by proprietary technology and a team of 2,400 people.

For press inquiries contact Marvin David Meintjies: [email protected]