757 Hellertown Road in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (photo from mid-August) — Courtesy: J.G. Petrucci Co. Inc.
By Joshua Burd
J.G. Petrucci Co. Inc. and BGO Cold Chain have signed a lease with Freshpet Inc. for a new 216,000-square-foot cold storage facility in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley.
According to a recent announcement, the fresh pet food brand will occupy the entire building at 757 Hellertown Road in Bethlehem, bolstering the distribution network for its temperature-sensitive products. The site will be Freshpet’s first dedicated cold storage facility, benefiting from a location near its existing Bethlehem kitchen and easy access to Interstate 78 and other major roadways.
Asbury, New Jersey-based Petrucci and BGO expect to complete the facility by year-end. Petrucci’s in-house construction management firm, Iron Hill Construction Management, is spearheading the project.
“Petrucci has been an exceptional partner, bringing specialist expertise and a shared commitment to quality and strong execution,” said Kevin Rivest, a managing partner with BGO. “Freshpet’s lease of the entire facility underscores the growing demand for modern cold chain infrastructure in this market.”
For Freshpet — which makes fresh, minimally processed meals and treats for dogs and cats using simple ingredients like real meat, fruits and vegetables with no fillers or preservatives — the deal expands a footprint that also includes a newly built headquarters in Bedminster.
“This new distribution center is an important step forward as we continue to grow alongside the families who count on us,” said Nicki Baty, the company’s chief operating officer. “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.”
Iron Hill also served as the general contractor for the new Bedminster office, working on behalf of developer Advance Realty Investors.
