VF Outdoor, Inc. has signed a long-term build-to-suit lease agreement for a new 817,000-square-foot distribution and logistics facility with The Allen Group.
The project will be located in the MidState 99 Distribution Center, a master-planned industrial development in Visalia, Calif. The new facility will serve as the Western distribution hub for VF Corp.'s Outdoor Apparel unit. More than 350 permanent jobs will be created by the facility once it's fully operational.
The Allen Group will develop the new 817,000-square-foot facility, which will feature state of the art racking and distribution equipment, 40-foot clear heights, and an additional 200,000 square feet of mezzanine space for VF Corp. The Allen Group will own the completed building, which will cost an estimated $43 million to develop, and has entered into a long-term lease on the property with VF Outdoor, Inc. In addition, VF Outdoor, Inc. signed a short-term lease for 118,000 square feet in an existing building that is also located in the MidState 99 Distribution Center.
“VF Outdoor, Inc.'s selection of MidState 99 reflects the site's competitive advantages, including its strategic location, abundant labor supply and existing rail infrastructure,” said Richard S. Allen, chief executive officer of The Allen Group. “The new VF facility will allow goods to be stored, shipped and delivered faster and with greater efficiency.”
“We are delighted to partner with the Visalia community to locate this modern distribution center in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley,” said Boyd A. Rogers, pesident – suply cain, VF Corporation. “After a comprehensive search, we recognized the positive business environment, excellent labor force and community support for this venture in Visalia.”
Construction of the new facility will begin within the next 10 days, with completion expected in June 2006. The development team includes design-build firm The Haskell Company (Jacksonville, Fla.) and Sedlak (Richfield, Ohio), a supply-chain specialist that is responsible for the design and implementation of all operations and materials-handling systems within the facility.
