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Kroger ‘Michigan Fresh Center’ goes into operation

New DC to supply perishables to grocer’s stores across the state

Russell Redman

June 5, 2019

1 Min Read
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A new perishables distribution center is now up and running for The Kroger Co. in Michigan.

Opened yesterday in Romulus, Mich., by Penske Logistics, the 606,000-square-foot freezer/cooler distribution center was built to supply Kroger's 120 Michigan stores with fresh, frozen and other refrigerated foods.

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The Penske facility will supply fresh and frozen products to Kroger's 120 Michigan stores. (Photo: Penske Logistics)

The Penske facility, dubbed the Michigan Fresh Center, houses 105 loading docks, -20°F freezers, 35°F coolers and an ambient temperature section. The distribution center also has “ample space” for commercial semi-trucks and trailers, the Reading, Pa.-based supply chain management and logistics firm said.

Kroger’s Novi-based Michigan division has 18,000 employees and also operates a dairy, 102 pharmacies and 78 fuel centers.

"The new Michigan Fresh Center brings greater convenience to The Kroger Co. of Michigan and enables us to supply store locations with fresher product every day," Rachel Hurst, corporate affairs manager for Kroger Michigan, said in a statement. "All products housed in the new distribution center are Kroger products, and the facility will only service Kroger's Michigan division."

Construction of the $98.5 million distribution center started in the fall of 2017 and was completed last fall, according to Penske. The company said local, on-site Penske Logistics management and workers were then hired as food and beverage products were moved into the facility. The project brings more than 400 new jobs to the region.

Related:Kroger gets $215 million from Turkey Hill sale

Penske added that it provides Kroger with similar warehousing and distribution center management and trucking services at other locations around the country.

"Our new distribution center to serve Kroger's needs is fully operational," said Penske Logistics President Marc Althen. "We are dedicated to providing customers with the state-of-the-art facilities they need to serve their own customers."

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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