CLAYMONT — Agile Cold Storage has quietly opened part of its $170 million state-of-the-art cold storage facility off Naaman’s Road, becoming the first business that has opened its doors at the site of the former Claymont steel mill.
State and local officials along with company executives cut the ribbon on the site in a private ceremony in October. Agile Cold Storage President Don Schoenl credits Delaware’s elected leaders, specifically Governor-elect Matt Meyer, for seeing the project through.
“We have worked closely with Delaware officials who recognized the need for modernized cold storage and the benefits that it offers including job creation and improved supply chain efficiencies,” Agile Cold Storage President Don Schoenl told the Delaware Business Times on Nov. 11. “We are grateful to local and state representatives for their professionalism and commitment. Agile is looking forward to servicing our customers and continuing to grow our business in Claymont.”
Agile Cold Storage specializes in blast freezing and layer and case picking through automation to serve e-commerce companies as well as businesses that ship fresh and frozen food via tractor trailer or through ports. Right now, the warehouse has 162,500 square feet with 70-foot-tall ceilings and five rooms that can operate on different temperatures.
The entire warehouse will be 265,000 square feet, complete with floor-to-ceiling racking in which specialized, semi-automated forklifts can navigate narrow aisles to place and pick items. The forklifts can also scan a code embedded on the floor of the warehouse and know where to go to place a product.
“Right now, we’re mostly handling imported foods and we’ll have poultry and frozen vegetables in the near future,” Agile Vice President of Business Development Madeleine Stanton told DBT.
Already, Agile is storing beef imported from Australia and South America and plans to add imported fruit from South America soon. The warehouse currently employs 100 people, in roles including management and supervisors, general laborers, forklift operators, inventory control, customer service and maintenance.
Agile is a relatively new third-party logistics provider that stores and distributes for other companies. Although the company itself is young, its management team has 20 years or more experience in the cold storage sector. Schoenl himself held key roles in Nordic Cold Storage and AGRO Merchants Group.
With the opening of the Claymont facility, the company marks opening its fifth facility. Agile currently runs two facilities in the Atlanta, Ga., area, another in Macon, Ga. and a fourth in Canada. This new Delaware facility allows the company to easily access the Mid-Atlantic market through the Port of Wilmington and close access to the Port of Philadelphia as well as New York, Baltimore, Washington, D.C, and more.
The project was supported through $4.56 million from the taxpayer-backed Strategic Fund in 2023, promising to bring 130 jobs in total when the project is complete.New Castle County government’s Jobs Now program under Meyer also accelerated the plan review process.
“[Meyer] has been instrumental in this project, and we look forward to a continued partnership,” Schoenl added.
The fact that the warehouse opened right on schedule is a victory for economic development, and one the Delaware Prosperity Partnership (DPP) hopes will be a case study for future projects, according to DPP Senior Manager Megan Kopistecki.
“We’re just thrilled to hear the feedback, and we passed it along to the county and the state agencies involved. Kudos to all the state and local agencies that worked to make this project happen in the timeline they wanted,” she said. “We’re really thrilled to see new industry jobs come to Claymont, and it’s really exciting to see a former industrial site repurposed like this.”
For years, Claymont has been working towards a revival that includes renovating historic sites like the Claymont Stone School as well as adding more housing and other economic development projects. A cornerstone to much of the region’s success includes warehouses at the former Evraz steel mill dubbed First State Crossing. Plans include a half-million distribution center at the former Tri-State Mall as well as another warehouse that Pepsi is reportedly looking to relocate its northern Delaware operations.
For Brett Saddler, the executive director of the Claymont Renaissance Development Corp., Agile not only marks the start of a new chapter for the town but also a good community partner. Agile has also donated $2,500 to the Knollwood Community Center and has started outreach to neighborhood organizations.
“Agile Cold Storage’s massive investment and new jobs created is being celebrated by many in Claymont,” Saddler said in a prepared statement. “CRDC is also very encouraged by the support they have given and are planning as part of their community outreach.”
