Saddle Creek Opens Facilities in Chicago and Jacksonville


Strategic locations meet needs of new and existing customers

Lakeland, Fla., Aug. 11, 2011 - Saddle Creek Corp., a nationwide third-party logistics provider, announced today that it is expanding its nationwide network with the addition of two new facilities in Chicago and Jacksonville, Fla. The expansion is part of Saddle Creek's strategic plan to grow both organically and through new business.

From the Chicago facility, Saddle Creek will manage the integrated logistics needs of a major recreational vehicle manufacturer, utilizing approximately half of the 416,000-square-foot facility. The remaining space will be available to accommodate business fluctuations and the needs of other customers.

"The flexibility of a multi-customer environment was a key reason this manufacturer selected Saddle Creek. It provides the flexibility to accommodate current needs while allowing room for growth," said Stephen Cook, vice president of marketing and business development at Saddle Creek. "Our proven start-up processes and experience with SAP also contributed to their decision to select Saddle Creek to manage their largest distribution center."

The Chicago facility is located within the CenterPoint Intermodal Center, the nation's largest master-planned inland port with direct access to BNSF and Union Pacific terminals. It is designated as a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) and Enterprise Zone. The distribution center will be fully operational by Oct. 1.

Moving to the new Jacksonville distribution center will allow an existing Saddle Creek customer to optimize freight savings, improve transit time, and customize space for its temperature-controlled products. The wine logistics company will occupy 213,000 square feet of the 375,000-square foot multi-customer distribution center.

"The new space will position us to handle increased volume as the customer's business changes, and its convenient location will help to reduce inbound freight costs," said Tom Patterson, Saddle Creek senior vice president, warehouse operations. "Augmenting our port presence will also enable Saddle Creek to handle inbound international freight more efficiently."

The Jacksonville facility is food-grade, climate-controlled and located near the port of Jacksonville. The distribution center will be operational this month.

"These two facilities represent exciting opportunities for Saddle Creek in terms of both new and organic growth," said Cook. "We look forward to delivering integrated logistics solutions for these two flagship customers while positioning ourselves for immediate growth in these locations."

About Saddle Creek Corp.

Saddle Creek Corp. is a nationwide third-party logistics company integrating warehousing, transportation, contract packaging and fulfillment services to provide comprehensive supply chain solutions. For more information, visit www.saddlecrk.com.

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