Coffee roasting company to build Suffolk distribution center

Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA Inc. expanding Portsmouth HQ, operations

Published June 11, 2020 by Sydney Lake

Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA Inc. (MZB-USA) announced Thursday it will build a 355,933-square-foot distribution center in Suffolk to support its headquarters and main coffee roasting operations in Portsmouth. The distribution center will be located in the Virginia Port Logistics Park, which is located approximately 30 miles from the Port of Virginia.

Construction on the warehouse is expected to begin this summer and be completed next summer. A cost for the project and the estimated amount of jobs the project will create has not been released.

Some of MZB-USA’s recognizable brands include Segafredo Zanetti Coffee and Espresso, Chock full o’Nuts, Hills Bros. Coffee, Hills Bros. Cappuccino and Kauai Coffee.

“This announcement was the result of a concerted effort in partnership with the city of Suffolk, Equus Capital Partners and JLL to align our long-term strategic market and supply chain initiatives with a national outlook,” said Doug Nesmith, MZB-USA senior vice president of supply chain, in a statement. “This facility will position us for greater efficiency and continued growth, add to the economic vitality of the area, and bringing great people to Suffolk – along with some of the best coffee on earth.” 

The new warehouse will provide space for supply chain enhancements and more product storage capacity. The Virginia Port Logistics Park is owned and operated by developer and private real estate manager Equus Capital Partners, which will be the lead developer on the project. 

“MZB-USA is an impressive operation with significant product distribution needs, and we are thrilled that our property will play a role as they increase efficiency and capacity with this new facility,” Dan DiLella Jr., Equus senior vice president, said in a statement. “The Virginia Port Logistic Park in Suffolk possesses additional development opportunities and Equus looks forward to supporting future users and their needs for quality, Class A logistics space in the region.”  

Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) helped MZB-USA with site search and negotiations at the Virginia Port Logistics Park, which is represented by Colliers International Inc. The Virginia Port Logistics Park is a 932-acre, 1.75 million-square-foot industrial development, according to Colliers. Its major tenants include Ace Hardware Corp., Friant, Emser Tile LLC, The Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) and Pilot Travel Center.

Founded in 1973, MZB-USA has long worked with the Virginia Port Authority, said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority.

“MZB-USA joins a flourishing coffee handling and manufacturing industry in Suffolk that is leveraging the port’s ongoing investments to drive growth of this niche industry,” Reinhart said in a statement. “Our ability to connect MZB-USA and its peers with strategic access to world markets will help drive investment and job growth for decades.”

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