Matson Expands Savannah Operation

Expansion exemplifies part of a continued regional boom in the development of third-party logistics providers.   

Savannah, Ga. – February 21, 2013 – Matson Logistics, a leading provider of multimodal transportation, warehousing, and distribution services throughout North America, has established new distribution center space in Savannah.

“Our new operation expands on our ability to move retail goods in through the Port of Savannah,” said Mark Ferzacca, assistant vice president of sales for Matson Logistics Warehousing. “More companies are using East Coast distribution centers to have their product closer to a rapidly growing regional market.”
 
Matson has contracted for 65,000 square feet, with the ability to increase to 125,000 square feet. The move follows a September expansion to its Bryan County operation, which added 237,600 square feet to its previous 135,000 square-foot facility.

The latest development is located on Norwest Court in Pooler, Ga., within the building designated as Savannah D. The distribution center is less than two miles from Interstate 95, 10 miles from I-16 and within eight miles of the Port of Savannah. The property features 125,000 square feet of space, a clearance of 32 feet and 65 truck bays.

“Matson’s decision to expand its East Coast distribution center space in Savannah will provide its customers cost-effective and reliable access to 44 percent of the U.S. population,” said Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Curtis Foltz.

The Port of Savannah forms a distribution center hub, with more than 4 million square feet of local warehouse space available, with an occupancy rate greater than 88 percent. There are 102 distribution centers across Georgia that are 500,000 square feet or larger.

Using Georgia’s deepwater ports to deliver goods much closer to Eastern U.S. markets cuts the cost of ground transportation.

"Our new Savannah distribution center, with its strategic location and room for expansion, directly aligns with the demands of a growing regional population," said Ferzacca.

GPA Board Chairman Robert Jepson said when companies decide to distribute goods from Georgia, it supports jobs in the logistics industry and beyond – but it also makes good business sense for the company.

“The Port of Savannah’s location as the most westerly of the Atlantic Coast ports makes it the gateway of choice for markets such as Atlanta, Birmingham, Memphis, Louisville, Charlotte and beyond,” Jepson said.

About Matson Logistics:

Matson Logistics is a leading provider of multimodal transportation, warehousing, and distribution services throughout North America. Known for our innovative solutions and financial strength and stability, Matson Logistics' people, processes and systems work together to deliver superior performance and value to our customers every day.

Georgia’s deepwater ports and inland barge terminals support more than 352,000 jobs throughout the state annually and contribute $18.5 billion in income, $66.9 billion in revenue and $2.5 billion in state and local taxes to Georgia’s economy. The Port of Savannah was the second busiest U.S. container port for the export of American goods by tonnage in FY2011. It also handled 8.7 percent of the U.S. containerized cargo volume and 12.5 percent of all U.S. containerized exports in FY2011.