Industrial Merger Could Impact Entire Market

Two of America’s largest cold storage landlords are expected to merge this quarter or first quarter of next year.

Americold and Versacold own and manage over 62 million square feet of cold storage assets in North America. With their largest footholds in Pennsylvania, Georgia and Florida, the merger would create a behemoth of cold storage assets.

The demand is minimally diminished for food/grocery storage only due to the retail demand down due to economic conditions. However, the cyclical demands shall return and the consumer will again buy in bulk and food and perishables need to be kept cold.

This prospective merger will create efficiencies and standards that will improve logistics, distribution and speed to market and consumer.

-Paul A. Waters, SIOR, CCIM, CRE, FRICS

Based in New York City, Paul Waters, SIOR, CCIM, CRE, FRICS, is Executive Vice President-The Americas at NAI Global, where he is responsible for business development and client relationships among major corporate end users of office and industrial space.