NFI Buys Network Logistic, Expands Warehousing

By Jonathan S. Reiskin, Associate News Editor

This story appears in the Aug. 17 print edition of Transport Topics. Click here to subscribe today.

NFI Industries said it expanded its warehousing operations by 20% with the Aug. 3 purchase of Network Logistic Solutions, which operates 3 million square feet of space in Florida, Georgia and Oklahoma. Pricing details were not disclosed.

Network Logistic will be absorbed into NFI Distribution, the NFI unit that deals with warehousing and distribution. An Aug. 7 statement from NFI said the addition of Network Logistic will bring NFI’s U.S. warehousing capacity to a total to 18 million square feet of space.

The Network Logistic warehouses are in Jacksonville, Fla.; Savannah, Ga.; and Muskogee, Okla. NFI already operates warehouses in Florida and Georgia, but this will be the company’s first location in Oklahoma.

“This acquisition enables NFI to provide the Network Logistic Solutions customer base with access to a vast network of integrated services — a one-stop shop for supply chain solutions,” said Sid Brown, NFI’s chief executive officer.

NFI, Vineland, N.J., started as a trucking company and has added logistics offerings in warehousing, distribution, intermodal, air and ocean freight forwarding, supply-chain consulting and packaging. It ranks No. 35 on the Transport Topics 100 list of the largest U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers, with $800 million in revenue in 2008.

Jim Scheidel, Network Logistic’s former majority owner and president, will work for NFI during a transition period, the company said.

Pat Byrnes, former vice president of operations for Network Logistic, will join NFI Distribution as regional vice president of operations.