Cheney Brothers has added a major new distribution asset to its Southeast network with the completion of a 386,047-sq-ft refrigerated and frozen foods facility in Florence, S.C., a project delivered through a longstanding partnership with design-build firm A M King.
The broadline distributor, part of Performance Food Group, is using the site—its first in South Carolina—to extend service along the Southeast Atlantic corridor. Located on nearly 50 acres in the Pee Dee Commerce City East Industrial Park near I-95, the facility is positioned to enhance distribution efficiency and expand regional reach.
Design-build approach drives complex cold-chain execution
A M King, a Charlotte, N.C.-based integrated design-build firm specializing in food distribution and processing facilities, handled both the design and construction of the Florence site—its fourth major project for Cheney Brothers.
The company’s role went beyond basic construction, with responsibility for integrating multiple temperature-controlled environments, high-throughput dock operations, and structural resilience into a single facility. Its design-build delivery model enabled coordination of complex refrigeration requirements, workflow planning, and building performance criteria under one contract.
“We were thrilled to partner with Cheney Brothers to develop a facility of this magnitude and complexity,” says David Sawicki, Vice President at A M King. “Our history of successful projects for CBI, along with our depth and breadth of food industry expertise, made this an ideal venture.”
The firm also engineered the building for durability in challenging conditions, combining seismic flexibility with high-wind protection—an approach aimed at ensuring operational continuity for a critical distribution node.
Facility layout supports high-volume, multi-temperature distribution
From an operational standpoint, the Florence facility is designed as a high-throughput, multi-zone distribution center with 45 loading docks to support efficient product flow.
The layout includes:
- 100,963 sq ft of dry storage and a 36,098-sq-ft dry dock
- 90,095 sq ft of freezer space
- 60,683 sq ft of cooler space with separate temperature zones for dairy, meat, flour and produce
- 31,533 sq ft of cooler dock space
In addition, the facility incorporates a 7,142-sq-ft Cheney Express retail component and a 3,364-sq-ft test kitchen—the largest culinary space developed by the company to date—supporting both customer engagement and product development.
To accommodate future growth, A M King’s design also includes expansion provisions for additional cooler/freezer and dry warehouse capacity, along with a planned mezzanine.
The project introduced new automation to Cheney Brothers’ operations, including a robotic forklift battery exchanger carousel—its first use within the company’s network. The system is designed to improve productivity while reducing manual handling and enhancing safety in warehouse operations.
Long-term partnership supports network growth
The Florence project builds on a multi-project relationship between Cheney Brothers and A M King, which has included major expansions to existing distribution facilities and the conversion of a shell building into a food distribution operation for an affiliated company.
“It’s simple when you partner with ‘best in class’ companies,” says Mike Turner, President of the Florence facility. “It’s been a pleasure working with A M King over the years while they have helped us grow our footprint here in the Carolinas with the best buildings in the industry.”
“I have worked with dozens of design-build and construction firms over the years, and I can honestly say that A M King is one of the finest,” says Warren Newell, Director of Development at Cheney Brothers. “They designed and constructed a first-class distribution center for us in Florence, which will strengthen our ability to serve Southeast Atlantic coastal customers.”
A M King is also currently working with Cheney Brothers on a separate project in Florida.
