BETHLEHEM, Pa.- Freshpet is expanding its footprint in the Lehigh Valley.
The pet food maker is leasing a new 216,000-square-foot warehouse on the former Bethlehem Steel property off of I-78.
According to a joint news release from J.G. Petrucci Company and BGO Cold Chain, Freshpet will use the building at 757 Hellertown Road (Route 412) as a cold storage facility.
The building is the larger of two warehouses that were approved for the 26-acre site last year. At the time, the developers said a tenant had been lined up for the larger building, but declined to provide specifics.
According to the news release, the building is Freshpet’s first dedicated cold storage facility. It’s expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Freshpet is based in Bedminster, New Jersey. It has three manufacturing kitchens, including a site outside Bethlehem in Hanover Township, Northampton County.
“This new distribution center is an important step forward as we continue to grow alongside the families who count on us,” said Nicki Baty, Chief Operating Officer at Freshpet, in the news release.
“Located just minutes from our Bethlehem Kitchen, it gives us greater control over our operations and the scalability we need to keep pace with our growth, while positioning us to support Freshpet for years to come,” says Baty.