UDF, which operates more than 200 ice cream parlors, convenience stores and gas stations, is exploring an expansion of its cold storage facility in Erlanger, according to a report released by the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority. Cold Chain Integrity is a UDF subsidiary located at 2825 Crescent Springs Pike and serves UDF for its ice cream products, as well as providing third-party storage and handling.
Officials with UDF did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The proposed expansion would include building another cold storage facility on the 35-acre campus, according to the KEDFA documents. The expansion of operations would include more than $16.2 million on building construction and nearly $3.2 million on equipment.
UDF received preliminary approval on Oct. 25 for a $500,000 tax incentive from the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act for construction materials and building fixtures.
Wade Williams, senior vice president of business development for Northern Kentucky Tri-ED, the nonprofit economic development organization for the region, said the preliminary approval for UDF’s expansion is encouraging.
“It’s a good example of a specialty warehouse operation that will be beneficial to the region,” Williams told me.
Matt Kremer, chief administrative officer for the city of Erlanger, said UDF is looking at a 112,000-square-foot expansion that would include refrigerated space, office space and truck docks. The expansion could result in 10 to 15 additional jobs and possibly a total of 30 jobs with more users of the facility.
Kremer said the expansion would have a minimal increase in truck and vehicle traffic.
“It will add revenue to the city from increased property taxes and payroll,” Kremer said.
The original 114,000-square-foot facility was built in 2007. It was expanded in 2010 to 300,000 square feet to meet customer demand. Cold Chain Integrity is the largest certified full-service cold storage facility in the region, according to the company’s website.
United Dairy Farmers, founded in 1940 by Carl Lindner Sr., is the 21st-largest private company in Greater Cincinnati with 2017 revenue of $614.2 million, according to Business Courier research.
