North Carolina Welcomes $85M Logistics Warehouse on I-95
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North Carolina officials announced that Florida-based Cold-Link Logistics will build an $85.5 million cold storage warehouse along Interstate 95 to handle local and regional poultry and other food products.
The centerpiece of the project is construction of a 233,000-square-foot, temperature-controlled building on 55 acres in the new Southeast Crossroads Industrial Park in Lumberton, N.C. The facility will handle products from poultry businesses and food companies, manufacturers and distributors.
Cold-Link Logistics, a cold storage management firm, is a unit of the family-owned Mandich Group, which is based in Hollywood, Fla., and was formed by brothers Michael, Mark and Nick Mandich.
Stein
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein welcomed the third-party logistics company to Robeson County, which along with its north-south access to I-95 also boasts an I-74 east-west connection.
“North Carolina is consistently ranked as a top state to do business thanks to our skilled workforce, robust transportation infrastructure and friendly business climate,” Stein said.
Cold-Link President and Managing Partner Michael Mandich added, “We have listened to our customers and their need for additional cold storage warehousing in the Southeast regions surrounding Lumberton. The Robeson County community has welcomed us with open arms. After looking into many areas to expand our business, we knew this was the right place to locate our 10th facility.”
Michael Mandich
State Sen. Danny Earl Britt Jr. noted, “Being situated along the I-95 corridor, Lumberton is a great location for warehouse and distribution companies looking to invest in growing markets with a solid pipeline of talent.”
The venture is expected to add 123 jobs to the region at an average annual salary of $50,128, higher than Robeson County’s median $42,964 salary. These jobs are expected to have a $6.1 million annual payroll impact on the local economy, according to the governor’s office.
The site is slated to open during the second quarter of 2026 in a multiphase effort. A 223,000-square-foot facility is set to open in the first phase, with the potential to expand the site to a maximum of 750,000 square feet. The warehouse could have up to 30,000 pallet positions and 792 blast-freezing positions, along with boxing, tempering and cross-docking with 70-foot docks, Mandich said.
NEWS: Cold-Link Logistics will build a new warehouse in NC, investing $85.5 million in #LumbertonNC and creating 123 new jobs in #RobesonCounty. More: https://t.co/EbXFydkBN2#EconDev #FoodandBev pic.twitter.com/AKTB1JbxlD — N.C. Commerce (@NCCommerce) February 5, 2025
The project received a $375,000 performance-based grant from the One North Carolina Fund, a state financial economic investment incentive for new companies that create jobs. Per the governor’s office, “Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job creation and capital investment targets to qualify for payment. All OneNC grants require matching participation from local governments, and any award is contingent upon that condition being met.”
“North Carolina’s supply chain for food and agriculture has always been an economic driver for our state,” North Carolina Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley said. “Our agricultural legacy and commitment to innovation will help companies like Cold-Link establish its operations and increase its footprint in the Southeastern United States.”
State backers of the venture include the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, the state General Assembly, North Carolina Community College System, and officials from the city and county.
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North Carolina won the project over South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia.
“With Cold-Link Logistics locating to Robeson County, we can look forward to more job opportunities, economic growth and a brighter future for local families,” said Pauline Campbell, chair of the Robeson County Board of Commission. “This investment in our county not only expands employment but also facilitates economic growth, providing stability and prosperity for our county and region.”
