Statesville, NC—Integrated Design-Build firm A M King has completed its third major project for Cheney Brothers, Inc. (CBI). The 72,142-sf dry warehouse expansion in Statesville, NC provides an additional 7,000 pallet positions, a larger loading dock and means for the Southeast-based broadline food distributor to continue its northward growth path. The project brings the total square footage at the facility to 342,126.
Cheney Brothers, Inc., was founded in 1925. In 2016, the company purchased Pate Dawson Co., thereby acquiring three distribution and processing facilities in Statesville, Goldsboro and Greensboro, NC. The goal is to significantly extend its reach within the region. Brands include Duck Deli, Acento Latino, Fronte, Belgium Nuts, Cheney Brothers Estate and Grand Western Steaks. Today the company handles more than 16,000 different products.
In April 2019, A M King completed a 169,090-sf cold storage expansion for CBI in Statesville, increasing the square footage at that facility to 265,000 sf. The project featured a state-of-the-art penthouse refrigeration system zoned to support numerous temperature zones in the expansion area; conversion of a 37,388-sf existing cold storage space to ambient temperature storage and renovation of a 34,686-sf existing dry warehouse.
“It’s always an honor partnering with Cheney Brothers on their projects,” says A M King Vice President Dan Crist. “We are particularly excited to build on the success we have achieved at this first-class distribution center in Statesville. This expansion has presented our team with several logistical site and scheduling challenges, and they offered innovative solutions that have ensured a positive outcome.”
“This is our second expansion project with A M King at the Statesville Distribution Center, both of which took place while we were still operating and serving customers out of the facility,” explained Rick Stapleton, President, Cheney Brothers Statesville. “Excellent communication, teamwork, and cooperation between the A M King and Cheney Brothers teams, were key to making the project a success without interruptions to our business. The latest dry warehouse expansion was necessary to create the additional product slots and stock the products needed for our customers. The increased dock doors and space sets us up for future growth throughout the Carolinas.”
Because the expansion impacted the existing auto and truck parking, our team is working to complete another parking lot adjacent to the entrance for employees and a totally new truck/trailer parking area on property to the West. The 13 acres located across the street was acquired from the City of Statesville in a lease/option agreement and construction commenced in November 2020. Fill was supplied from an existing stockpile on site.
Demolition of the existing parking lot and utilities made way for the new addition. Included in the expansion is a 70,037-sf dry warehouse and a 2,253-sf receiving office. The addition of 15 new dry dock positions combined with two existing dry docks and 19 existing cooler docks brings the total to 36 and enhances CBI’s ability to receive and distribute product quickly and efficiently.
The scope of work also included relocation of Cheney Express for more convenient customer access; a 600-sf expansion of the existing downstairs employee breakroom; enlargement of the employee locker area located adjacent to the breakroom; increased office space in the second-floor mezzanine and renovation of the existing receiving office. The complexity of this project was heightened by the fact that all work was performed in an operational distribution facility.
A M King is an integrated Design-Build firm based in Charlotte, NC with offices in Greenville, SC and Chicago, IL. An employee-owned company, A M King consistently and successfully delivers quality projects throughout the United States. With an experienced team committed to protecting clients’ assets, the firm provides property consulting, design, construction, and facility services in key market sectors including food processing, food distribution, industrial manufacturing, and corporate properties.
Cheney Brothers, Inc. is a broadline food distributor that delivers more than 16,000 different products throughout the Southeast region of United States and in more than 100 countries. Cheney Brothers employs more than 3,800 individuals and reports annual revenues exceeding $2.6 billion.
