Cleveland's cold storage facility is positioning the region as a leader in the frozen food distribution industry.

The cold storage facility that opened earlier this year on Opportunity Corridor is far more than a giant freezer.  It’s a major investment in the neighborhood and the region that is positioning Cleveland as a leader in the frozen food distribution industry. Now known as the Nor Am Cold Storage PRW (public refrigerated warehouse), the $50 million frozen food distribution hub at 2797 East 75^th Street is transforming the ‘Forgotten Triangle’ and the local and regional food segment.  

What does Nor Am facility offer customers? What makes it unique?

Nor-Am is a vital player in the food supply chain, offering a full-service frozen (0°F) and refrigerated (38°F) public warehouse. Our 157,000-sf freezer, opened in March 2024, boasts 16,500 pallet positions, providing ample flexibility and seasonality for customers of all sizes.

We provide customers with ePortal access, allowing them to view their product inventory continuously. Nor-Am is BRC-certified at all locations, which is part of the Global Food Safety Initiative. BRC certification is a strict set of food safety and quality management requirements.

Thomas

Nor-Am is a family-owned and operated company. Our business is based on not only professional relationships but also personal relationships. The facility is centered in a food manufacturing-dense area, and we are excited to offer this multi-customer facility to a wide range of food.    companies throughout NE Ohio and beyond.

How does the Opportunity Corridor location benefit customers?

The Nor-Am location allows the Cleveland facility to act as the distribution center for multiple customers, allowing customers to focus on their core strength of manufacturing and growing their business. Our location benefits customers by reducing transportation costs. Before the arrival of Nor-Am Cold Storage, these food companies were shipping their products hundreds of miles from their plants. Nor-Am's location is within 30 miles of the majority of customers and has significantly reduced supply chain costs. One customer is now located 200 yards from Nor-Am.

How does the facility benefit the area?

Currently, Nor-Am has created 15 jobs and will continue to increase staffing as more customers and their volumes flow through the facility. We expect to reach 20 to 25 team members by the end of our first year of operation.

This investment, the largest thus far on the Opportunity Corridor, has turned what was once considered the ‘Forgotten Triangle’ into a vibrant food distribution hub that will provide local food manufacturers with a new capability in better serving their customers. We are supporting the transformation of the area, making the area more appealing to additional food manufacturers who are considering Cleveland as their operating base due to the availability of our facility and services.

This cold storage facility is considered a Public Refrigerated Warehouse or PRW. It requires a large capital investment to build as well as to support and train a highly skilled team of associates to operate.

From how far away do you attract customers?

While most of our current customers are within 35 miles of the Cleveland facility, we have the ability to service national customers in our network of warehouses. Many of our existing customers at our facilities (located in Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Wisconsin and Minnesota) are now considering storing products in Cleveland when it benefits their distribution routes. As we expand in Cleveland, we have the opportunity to add export services for international business.

Learn more

Nor-Am Cold Storage

Cleveland Cold Storage groundbreaking on Opportunity Corridor an investment in city and people | by Greater Cleveland Partnership | Medium

Groundbreaking for New Cold Storage Facility - Global Cold Chain Alliance (gcca.org)

For more information on Nor Am in Cleveland, contact Nick Pacitti: npacitti@nor-am.com.