HenneCold Storage Expands Tampa Facility, Adds to Workforce
East Tampa Terminal Acquires 17,000 Square-Foot Perishable Storage Facility
April 9, 2009 --
HenneCold Storage has nearly doubled the size of its Tampa location, acquiring a 17,000 square-foot perishable storage facility and adding 10 new full-time employees to its workforce.
“This acquisition signals HenneCold’s commitment to providing the state-of-the-art facilities and full range of services our customers need,” said Jim Carpenter, president, HenneCold Storage.
HenneCold has operated a 20,000 square foot freezer facility in east Tampa since the company began operation in mid-2007. The addition of the cooler warehouse, located in the same facility as the HenneCold Freezer, allows HenneCold to provide storage for perishable items such as cheese, dairy, fresh meat and fresh produce.
HenneCold’s partnership with BenCo Transportation and HenneCo Freight and Logistics offers customers “one-stop shopping” for storage and transportation.
About HenneCold Storage
HenneCold Storage provides state-of-the-art frozen and refrigerated warehousing, professional distribution and supply-chain management. Offering nearly 40,000 square feet of perishable storage space, 24-hour security and online inventory and tracking, HenneCold Storage is committed to maintaining the quality and integrity of customers’ products from door-to-door. It is the sister company of BenCo Transportation, which maintains a fleet of more than 30 independent long-haul and local vehicles. For more information please contact Jim Carpenter at 813-626-4900.
HenneCold Expands Warehouse Operations
January 18, 2008 --
TAMPA, FL-HenneCold Storage is pleased to announce the installation of over 300 additional rack spaces to its facility, located at 6408 53rd Street in Tampa, Florida.
The additional racking was installed in underutilized areas of the 16,000 square foot 5-year old facility. Jim Carpenter, president of HenneCold Storage, said that the additional racking increases their total freezer capacity by over 30%.
“We’ve captured what was previously designed as a staging area to help meet the needs of our customers”, Carpenter said. “We were previously using the space for over-sized product storage. An earlier improvement we made was to increase the height of all of our existing racking, so those over-sized pallets can now be located anywhere in our facility.”
HenneCold Storage was started in mid-2007 and is a public refrigerated warehouse. The freezer maintains -15 degrees (F) with a refrigerated (35 degrees) dock.
A sweet ‘Trifecta’ rises from the ashes in Tampa
Sept. 14, 2007 --
Most people have heard the old adage about turning “lemons into lemonade”. It looks great on a bumper-sticker, but does it really apply to the business world? Hennessey Capital Southeast was forced to find out. The Tampa-based factoring and financial solutions company had been trying for over a year to help one of its clients turn the corner and turn a profit. The storage and transportation company had great possibilities—a phenomenal team, an incredible location, and a substantial and loyal client base. Over time, however, it was apparent that poor senior-level management decisions and excessive overhead had led the company past the point of no return and ultimately forced the company into Chapter 7 bankruptcy in late May of this year. David Wolf, president of Hennessey Capital Southeast (HCSE), had a decision to make. Since his company was owed a substantial amount of money from the failed organization, he had a choice: liquidate the assets of the closed company and move on, or “put his money where his mouth was” and help a phoenix rise from the ashes.
After the doors had closed, several members of middle management asked to meet with Wolf and talk about the future. For Wolf, the choice was clear. “The core team and dynamic of the company was a group of dedicated, talented and professional individuals who had a common goal and vision”, said Wolf. “The question in my mind wasn’t ‘Can we make this work?’ It was ‘How can this not work?”. Wolf met with the middle-management team from the old company after the doors had closed and asked them if they were up to the challenge of creating a group of companies based on the Hennessey commitment to exceed every customer’s expectations. “These companies have to show their clients not just who we are, but also who we’re not”. It was a challenge the team readily accepted. Wolf became partners with four of the team, giving them ownership and personal investment in the new companies.
The new companies have been in operation for just 3 months, but already have made their presence known in the southeast. HenneCold Storage is a 20,000 square-foot freezer facility that was built only 5 years ago. Jim Carpenter, the president of HenneCold Storage, said that the whole experience has been great so far. “It’s wonderful to have the Hennessey family’s integrity and commitment to ‘doing what’s right’ as our leading principles. The mission of the Hennessey Family fits our goals and ideals perfectly. The end result is an infrastructure and company leadership that is just as dedicated to our partners and customers as we are.”
The changes haven’t just been in ideology. BenCo Transportation is operated by Tim Lomelino, a former terminal manager for the previous company. He has partnered with Hennessey Capital to purchase and lease tractors and trailers to independent drivers, changing them from “company drivers” to owner-operators. Lomelino was able to get “the best of the best” from the previous company. “The change has resulted in having a dedicated team who have a personal interest in the success of BenCo Transportation”, Lomelino said. “We hold the authority on the trucks for the next few years, and the drivers then have the ability to stay on with BenCo or seek greener pastures.” The entire BenCo fleet is less than 4 years old and all trailers are 2007 Great Danes. “We’ve added GPS and CBs to all of the rigs”, Lomelino added. “We want them to succeed and we’re trying to give them every opportunity to realize ownership. With the financial help of Hennessey Capital, we’re able to offer the drivers substantial savings and payment options that most O/O simply can’t attain.”
HenneCo Logistics, the third wing of the phoenix, is directed by Tommy Crosson, senior sales representative for the previous company. “Our brokerage allows our customers to confidently book freight with people that they already have a relationship with”, said Crosson. “We’re literally going the extra mile for our clients that may have needs outside of the lanes of BenCo, ensuring that their freight receives the same attention to detail and quality logistics that they’ve come to expect and demand.”
For Wolf, the benefits are just beginning to be realized. “The Hennessey family of companies is dedicated to our employees and their success. It’s great to find such a dynamic team already in place that has the same values, principles, direction and passion for success. We haven’t even scratched the surface”.
And the lemonade, Wolf says, is the best he’s ever had.
