ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AIMPERA Capital Partners, LLC (“AIMPERA”) and Continental Grain Company (“CGC”), in partnership with industry veteran Don Schoenl, are excited to announce the launch of Agile Cold Storage LLC (“Agile” or the “Company”). Working in partnership with North American food manufacturers, processers and growers, Agile will develop a nationwide network of greenfield automated and conventional temperature-controlled warehouses. Agile was formed to increase efficiency and deliver industry-leading customer service to address unmet needs in the cold chain.
Agile’s state-of-the-art automation solutions enable its customers to stay ahead of the evolving challenges of the cold chain, including risks to food safety; increasing costs of labor, energy and transportation; smaller and more frequent orders; as well as the increasing importance of e-commerce and sustainability. With automation, Agile eliminates repetitive processes in the harshest operating environments, where traditional operators face the greatest safety risks, employee turnover and product loss. This results in more safe, reliable, and flexible operations, enabling Agile to provide consistent service and deliver sustainable cost savings to its customers.
Agile’s experienced team is led by Don Schoenl, a 25-year cold chain industry veteran and former chairman of the World Food Logistics Organization. Agile’s seasoned team brings almost 200 years of combined experience in the refrigerated warehouse industry and includes experts from the leading temperature-controlled warehousing companies in the world. In previous positions, the team oversaw the development of over 500,000 new temperature-controlled pallet positions, including over 200,000 fully automated pallet positions.
“We formed Agile because there is such a need for more flexible, dependable, consistent, high-quality service partners in the cold storage industry. By combining a family business approach of ‘how can we help’ with the most modern systems and warehouse automation, we can provide our partners with consistently great service at the best prices,” said Don Schoenl, CEO.
Burnie Taylor, Agile’s COO, Automated Facilities, added, “We bring our customers proven technology and flexible solutions to assist them in solving their supply chain challenges. Our team members have designed, built and run automated cold storage facilities, including the largest automated facility in North America. We’re delighted to come together to do it on a nationwide scale.”
“Today’s cold storage infrastructure fails to meet customers’ needs, as we experience in our operating businesses every day. Don and AIMPERA are strong partners who share our values and a strategic vision to advance the temperature-controlled warehousing industry. We look forward to bringing our capabilities, food industry experience and network to deliver novel supply chain solutions to Agile’s customers,” said Ari Gendason, CGC’s Chief Investment Officer.
Matt Carbone, AIMPERA Managing Partner, added “Members of AIMPERA’s team previously partnered with Don to build Nordic Cold Storage LLC into a leading, North American temperature-controlled warehousing provider with industry-leading service. We are excited to be partnering with Don to further enhance the best-in-class service his team provided. Together with CGC, we are committed to deploying capital to develop state-of-the-art automated facilities and an enduring business built on long-term partnerships with its valued customers.”
About Agile Cold Storage
Agile is developing a nationwide network of greenfield automated and conventional temperature-controlled warehouses over the next three years. Agile partners with North American food manufacturers, processers and growers in need of temperature-controlled warehouses, bringing proven technologies and flexible problem-solving to address their supply chain challenges at lower cost and with better service.
Agile is focused on safety and service and prioritizes caring for its team members and the products that it handles. The company is committed to hiring, training and retaining the best employees, who are the foundation of the company. It uses technology and automation to help ensure that its services are the most reliable and efficient in the industry, passing those efficiencies and benefits along to its customers.
Agile is a privately held company owned by management along with an affiliate of AIMPERA Capital Partners and Continental Grain Company, both experienced long-term investors in agriculture and related businesses. The company’s senior management team has almost 200 years of combined experience running cold storage facilities, including at Nordic Cold Storage LLC, Nashville Refrigerated Services LLC, Preferred Freezer Services LLC, Lineage Logistics LLC, Americold Logistics LLC and AGRO Merchants Group, LLC. In previous roles, the Agile team designed, constructed, started up and operated over 500,000 pallet positions of temperature-controlled space across the U.S.
For more information, please visit agilecoldstorage.com.
About AIMPERA Capital Partners, LLC
AIMPERA is a private investment firm that seeks to invest in asset-rich operating businesses in partnership with management. The firm looks to create value in businesses essential to the framework of American lives. AIMPERA focuses on pre-institutional sectors in the North American lower middle market. It targets opportunities with downside protection, stable income and growth potential while utilizing a repeatable, process-driven value creation model.
For more information, please visit www.aimpera.com.
About Continental Grain Company
CGC is a privately‐owned global investor, owner and operator of companies with more than 200 years of history across the food and agribusiness spectrum. The firm creates long‐term value by applying deep industry knowledge, capital and talent to businesses ranging from established market leaders to promising innovators.
CGC focuses on building platforms that leverage its strategic expertise in food production, processing, and distribution to source proprietary deals, working alongside trusted partners and supporting strong management teams. It brings a long‐term ownership mindset, concentrating on investment and operating plans that create enduring value and a sustainable, efficient and nutritional food supply chain.
For more information, please visit www.continentalgrain.com.