SiCar Farms Announces New Facility
MISSION, TX - SiCar Farms jumped into the newswires recently, announcing the opening of its new facility alongside its new location. This warehouse, which will be located in McAllen, Texas, is 100,000 square feet and completely refrigerated. It also has 21 loading docks and 12,000 additional square feet of office space. The coolers' capacity stands at 85,000 square feet with a storage capacity of just over 120 loads of product.
“Expansion plans have always played a key role in our organization since SiCar Farms offices were opened in 2003 in McAllen, Texas,” stated Luis Gudino, CEO. “Our operations have vastly increased during the past five years, managing twenty different commodities, which has enabled us to increase our customer’s portfolio. Each commodity can have a wide range of varieties and sizes. In parallel, our assigned volume has also increased as a result of our customers’ satisfaction and trust in our company and brand. This new facility will accommodate three times as much of expected operational capacity. Additionally, the industry market's needs are constantly evolving and so are we; our company principles and focus are innovative, modern, and sustainable.”
According to a press release, the warehouse has cutting-edge tech. Currently, most functions are controlled by robotics and other high technology sorting line systems. By focusing on warehouse efficiencies, the company noted that this will optimize its inventory operations, increase product flow, and reduce over fifty percent of forklift traffic throughout the warehouse.
In addition, SiCar Farms has its sights set on energy sustainability, with plans to install solar panels within the facility by or before 2020. A newly-automated pallet-strapping device and facility truck scales will all result in time efficiency and reduce overall operational costs. The new warehouse will feature LED lighting throughout, a refrigeration system with isolated panels, and an IR2 system.
The facility is strategically located on the overweight corridor in McAllen, Texas. This location enables SiCar Farms to maximize its container weights and extend the value to its customers.
“We are positioning our brand in the United States and Canada, and long-term, we would like to expand our business (fresh produce) to other continents. The advantage we have is our CITROJUGO business unit, which is already recognized and delivers processed lime products to Europe and Asia,” continued Gudino.
To learn more about the company’s facility and capabilities, be sure to visit the team at PMA Fresh Summit at booth #866.
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"I believe Dan to be one of the brightest and most creative merchants in the industry," said Appel. "He possesses both a strong understanding of our specialty brand and the business acumen to deliver results. With Dan at the helm of our merchandising team, I am confident that we will achieve our vision of being the premier, fresh-focused, specialty food retailer."
Having been the President and CEO at Kings Super Markets/Balducci's Markets and the Chief Merchandising and Marketing Officer at Winn-Dixie Stores, Portnoy brings with him over 35 years of experience. His retail background is complemented by a deep knowledge of consumer products goods attributed to prior leadership positions at Cott Corporation, a leading beverage company, and Daymon Worldwide, a private brand development company.
“Not only is PMA Fresh Summit a great time to reconnect with customers and foster in-person relationships, but it prepares the team for the season ahead,” Lance starts. “It is also a great opportunity to continue sharing company updates and other exciting news.”
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“We are excited to have someone with Andy’s experience come to work for us. The produce business is paramount to our success, and our expectation is that Andy will help grow this segment for us with multiple shippers,” said Edward Lund, President.
“I couldn’t be happier to add Andy Shoemaker as our Director of Perishable Logistics to the Allen Lund family,” Bob Rose, VP of Produce Sales, commented. “Allen Lund began his journey hauling produce across the USA. Our core business today centers around the cold chain and keeping our customers fulfilled. Andy has been in all aspects of the produce business with most of his time spent with Taylor Farms. He brings a unique perspective to ALC as he understands what our customers go through on a daily, weekly, yearly basis. We welcome Andy in his new role and know he will help make us even stronger in the perishable landscape.”
“I've been in the industry for a long time and have always admired the reputation and culture the Allen Lund Company had,” Shoemaker added. “When I realized I still wanted to work and utilize my talents, traits, relationships, etc., it was the reputation of ALC that enticed me to ‘get back in the hunt.’"
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“It’s been a great year for launching new products and brands. We look forward to showcasing them all at Fresh Summit in Anaheim at Booth #4451 and in the New Product Showcases,” said Chris Veillon, Chief Marketing Officer.