Americold Realty Trust has announced plans to build an import-export hub in St. John, N.B.

The project at Port St. John is valued between $75 million and $80 million and will mark Atlanta-based Maricold’s expansion into Canada. The company plans to leverage existing partnerships with logistics giant DP World and Calgary-based railway operator Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), whose network spans Canada, the U.S., and Mexico.

The facility will feature approximately 22,000 pallet positions and aims to enhance food flows between Central and Eastern Canada and global markets, including Europe, South America, and the Asia-Pacific region.

“Developing a state-of-the-art facility in Port Saint John marks an exciting step forward for Americold as the company expands into a strategically compelling geography serving high-volume international routes, providing unparalleled opportunities for integration with our premier partners in DP World and CPKC,” said Americold CEO George Chappelle.

Opportunities NB, the province’s economic development arm, will contribute up to $1.01 million in payroll rebates to support the creation of up to 100 jobs by 2029, with the project expected to generate up to $37 million in direct provincial GDP.

“This investment by Americold represents a significant milestone in our joint mission to create seamless, end-to-end logistics solutions that meet the evolving needs of global trade,” said DP World Canada CEO Doug Smith. “By leveraging the strengths of our strategic partners, we are enhancing the cold-chain infrastructure in Central and Eastern Canada, enabling faster, more reliable, and sustainable connections for food supply chains worldwide.”

Americold is a global leader in temperature-controlled logistics, operating 239 warehouses across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and South America.

Photo: Port St. John