Smucker’s – Customer Success
Customer: J. M. Smucker Company
Region: DCT Eastern Region, Georgia
Type: Facility Redevelopment
The Situation
J.M. Smucker Company, a large food marketer and manufacturer based in Orrville, Ohio, was actively seeking a building that could help serve as the Company’s distribution center in the southern United States. With a long list of criteria for the building and the tight deadline getting closer, Smucker’s was in a difficult position.
How DCT Helped
DCT team approached the brokers representing Smucker’s, convinced that Smucker’s requirements could be met. DCT proposed a Southcreek IV bulk industrial manufacturing building along with new redevelopment plans. The building had been eliminated previously by Smucker’s because it lacked the trailer storage required (200 trailer drops). Instead, DCT negotiated the acquisition of 15 acres adjacent to the property to construct the required trailer storage lot. Under a compressed timeline, DCT successfully obtained the land, rezoned a portion of the site, and completed the site work and improvements.
Smucker’s had one more critical criteria for their leasing contract. Provide a creative move in plan for Smucker’s that allowed them to move in phases, minimize disruption and pace the transition. Since the Company didn’t require the full 556,800 SF on day one, DCT worked out a phased take down of space over 36 months. This was an absolute “must” for JMS—and DCT’s ability to remain flexible with the move in was key to finalizing the negotiation.
A Successful Outcome
Smucker’s signed 5-year lease as a single tenant for the 556,800 SF, Southcreek IV building. The warehouse is conveniently located in near major highways and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Todd Carter, Vice President and Regional Director of Leasing for DCT, said the Smucker lease was a good example of DCT’s commitment to “understand the customer goals and pursue all potential opportunities” to help clients find the property solution.
Quote:
“The DCT team knows their market, knows how to listen, and as a result, brought us a creative solution that fit our exact needs.”
- JM Smucker Company