WILMINGTON, NC (April 21, 2022) – RL Cold, the largest cold chain developer in the nation, broke ground on a $100 million cold chain storage facility in the Pender Commerce Park Thursday. 

The investment is being constructed on a 29-acre site in the commerce park off U.S. 421. At nearly 285,000 square feet, the facility will be among the most modernized and sustainable cold chain storage products on the market, officials said at a groundbreaking ceremony. Evans General Contractors is heading up construction on the project, which was designed as an import-export hub for refrigerated cargo delivered through the Port of Wilmington, according to RL Cold.

RL Cold groundbreaking for cold storage facility

Company officials lauded the work of economic development partners with Wilmington Business Development (WBD) for being instrumental in realizing the project and Pender County elected leaders for supporting the endeavor.  

“We would not be here today without those guys,” RL Cold principal Thomas Eldridge said of WBD representatives. “Having officials that support you and believe in you is critical.”

RL Cold groundbreaking ceremony at the Pender Commerce Park.
Josh Lewis, chief strategy officer of RL Cold, shares remarks at the company’s groundbreaking ceremony at the Pender Commerce Park Thursday. (Photo by Johanna F. Still)