Novi, Michigan-based Lineage recently hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the expansion of its cold storage facility in Hobart.

The project added about 188,000 square feet of space and 58,000 pallet positions to Lineage’s existing Hobart site. This is the third expansion of the building since 2008.

“This Hobart expansion represents an investment in innovation and supply chain solutions connectivity that helps our customers succeed,” said Greg Bryan, Lineage chief integrated solutions officer, in a press release. “As part of our Velocities program, this project shows how we’re working alongside our customers to provide cost competitive and consistent delivery of less-than-truckload, temperature-controlled products to the marketplace.”

The fully automated Hobart expansion is equipped to handle thousands of cases of product daily and better serve customers participating in Lineage’s Velocities multivendor freight consolidation program. Velocities combines shipments from multiple vendors into shared truckloads shipping on a fixed sailing schedule to retailer and foodservice distribution centers across the U.S. and Canada. The program was designed to help food and beverage producers, retailers and distributors reduce transportation costs, meet strict delivery windows and increase supply chain reliability.

Several city council members, representatives from the Hobart Chamber and other local leaders attended the event. The ribbon cutting ceremony was followed by a presentation of $50,000 in grants from Lineage Foundation for Good in partnership with Henningsen Family Fund to local nonprofit organizations.

The Lineage Foundation for Good is an independent public charity that applies supply chain expertise to humanitarian impact. In Hobart, employees selected the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, Phil’s Friends and the American Red Cross – Northwest Indiana Chapter as beneficiaries.