NewCold announces landmark expansion in Lebanon, Indiana

NewCold, the global leader in advanced food logistics, today announced a landmark over $500 million expansion of its Lebanon, Indiana campus—one of the most significant single-phase cold storage developments undertaken globally.

“This milestone reflects NewCold’s commitment to redefining temperature-controlled logistics on a global scale,” said Bram Hage, NewCold Founder & CEO. “By combining advanced automation with unprecedented capacity, we’re creating a flexible solution that allows our customers to grow with the quality, efficiency, and service they expect from a true partner.”

The expansion follows NewCold’s investment of over $300 million across the first two phases of the Lebanon campus, including the successful 2024 opening of the second phase, which doubled the original capacity.

“NewCold’s third expansion in Indiana is a testament that global companies can build a robust operation here,” said Indiana Governor Mike Braun. “With a central location, a skilled workforce and a committed community, NewCold has all the tools and resources needed to serve its customers and succeed here in the center of the U.S.”

The new facility will stand at approximately 141 feet (43 meters) tall, featuring three high-bay areas serving both frozen and chilled temperature zones. This facility marks the first time in North America that NewCold will operate a chilled warehouse, expanding its temperature-controlled capabilities to better serve customers with diverse product portfolios.

For NewCold’s customers, this expansion translates to increased capacity, faster throughput, and a more diversified service offering, all necessary as food brands navigate growth, supply chain complexity, and rising consumer demand for quality and consistency.

According to Mike Shawgo, President of NewCold North America, the Lebanon facility represents a significant advancement in the company’s approach to scaling operations throughout the network. Shawgo emphasizes that this facility is not solely focused on achieving impressive size or scale. Rather, it has been intentionally designed to support efficient operational execution by integrating state-of-the-art automation and the ability to handle multiple temperature zones.  These features are aimed at maximizing utilization of the facility while ensuring reliable and scalable service for the customers and the business. Shawgo highlights that Lebanon stands as a clear example of NewCold’s commitment to purposeful and strategic growth, leveraging scale to drive sustained performance across North America.

The facility will feature NewCold’s proprietary automation technology, including advanced automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), pallet stacking and de-stacking systems, and pallet exchangers. Notably, the site will deploy a 2D shuttle system for the first time in North America, enabling seamless product movement between chilled and frozen zones.

The project is expected to create over 350 construction jobs and over 200 permanent positions once operational, representing a significant investment in the local workforce and Lebanon’s long-term economic development.

“Lebanon continues to prove that we are a premier destination for global innovation. NewCold choosing our city for its largest project worldwide is a testament to our strategic location and our commitment to fostering a pro-business innovative environment. We are proud to support this expansion that brings additional high-quality jobs and significant investment to our community, further solidifying Lebanon’s role as a leader in the modern supply chain,” said Lebanon Mayor Matt Gentry.

Beyond the facility itself, NewCold is investing in infrastructure improvements that will benefit Lebanon’s broader business community and residents. The project includes construction of a new electrical substation to support the business park’s growth, road extensions to improve regional access, and pedestrian pathways connecting to surrounding areas.

“NewCold’s Phase 3 expansion reflects the strength of our partnership, and the advantages Boone County offers growing companies,” said Andrea Kern, CEO of the Boone County Economic Development Corporation. “This investment brings new jobs and continued economic growth to Lebanon, and we appreciate NewCold’s long-term commitment to our community.”

As food manufacturers and distributors face mounting pressure to optimize distribution networks, reduce costs, and improve service levels, NewCold’s Lebanon expansion offers world-class infrastructure, cutting-edge automation, and the operational reliability that comes from a proven partner.

About NewCold: NewCold, the world’s third-largest refrigerated food logistics provider, offers advanced temperature-controlled supply chain solutions. With 26 state-of-the-art, highly automated, and energy-efficient warehouses across three continents, NewCold offers a combined capacity of more than 2 million pallet positions. With a growing transport fleet, NewCold provides end-to-end supply chain solutions to leading food companies powered by proprietary technology and backed by a team of over 3,000 people from over 40 cultures.