Tucson Plant Serves Clients in Southwest U.S.
4th Factory Means Majority of U.S. Population Within 500 Miles
Production begins in 2023 at our fourth plant, located in Tucson, AR, with walk-in coolers and freezers shipped to clients in the Southwestern U.S. This includes the states of Arizona, southern California, Nevada, New Mexico, and portions of Utah and Colorado.
This location will reduce shipping costs and lead time in the Southwest.
The fourth location means that Imperial Brown has two-thirds of the U.S. population within a 500-mile radius of its plants. Justin L. Sandall, President & CEO, said that Imperial Brown’s new level of distributed manufacturing is a strategic advantage for clients, many of whom have very large national footprints and growth plans and continue to face rising freight costs.
The Tucson factory, located at 3350 East Medina Road, Tucson, is Imperial Brown’s first greenfield project. During the construction process, Imperial Brown employees at other locations relocated to Tucson to lend their collaboration, input, and expertise. The new factory incorporates best practices, equipment technolog, and employees from Imperial Brown operations throughout the country.
The new factory, with 102,000 square feet under roof, will initially employ 65 employee-owners with an expected economic impact of $225 million over the next 10 years.
“The Tucson factory represents the best of IB – the best the industry has to offer, Sandall said.
Sandall called the factory the first significant new factory in the industry in recent years. With other companies closing factories, IB has responded to the market’s needs by adding its fourth plant to an underserved area, he said.
Steve Bert, Vice-President of Sales & Marketing, said the factory means Imperial Brown can “more fully cover the U.S. in this ever-changing and challenging business environment. Tucson will help our Oregon and Oklahoma factories reduce some lead time by taking some of their work that ships to the Southwestern states. Customers in the Southwest will greatly appreciate a more local manufacturing presence. Our entire sales team is very excited and wants to make this newest factory grow at a steady pace.”
The new factory is a stand-alone building located in the Tucson Airport Distribution Center with close access to Interstate 10, Interstate 19, and the Tucson International Airport. It features 32-foot clear height, 72 truck courts that are 90 feet deep for trailer storage, ESFR fire protection, 105 vehicle parking spots, 24 dock positions, and 8 grade doors.
