ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. – Creekstone Farms Premium Beef, a subsidiary of Marubeni Corp., announced plans for a new $35 million refrigerated distribution center at its plant in Arkansas City, Kansas, on Oct. 22.

The facility is expected to be fully operational by the fall of 2019. The warehouse will be total of 41,334 sq. ft., consisting of a 35,311-sq.-ft. main floor footprint and a 6,023-sq.-ft. mezzanine area.

Included in the layout is an automated storage and retrieval system capable of handling 27,000 boxes in a nine-hour day with more than 37,000 box storage locations.

“This major investment by the Marubeni Group shows the commitment that Creekstone’s parent company has in Creekstone Farms, its employees and customers,” Creekstone President and CEO Kazunobu Nomura said in a statement. “We are very excited to get this project completed as it will be a catalyst allowing for growth to meet our customer demands.”

Japan-based Marubeni acquired Creekstone Farms in July of 2017.  Creekstone Farms supplies Black Angus Beef, antibiotic-free Duroc Pork and other value-added products to top grocers and restaurants in the United States, as well as exporting to Europe, Latin America and Asia.