J.G. Petrucci Company and BGO Fully Lease 216,000-SF Bethlehem Cold Storage Facility to Freshpet

J.G. Petrucci Company and BGO Cold Chain announced Aug. 11 that Freshpet has signed a lease for the full 216,000 square feet of a cold storage development at 757 Hellertown Road in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, securing a single tenant for the project ahead of its scheduled year-end 2026 completion.

The facility marks Freshpet's first dedicated cold storage building and sits in close proximity to the company's existing Bethlehem Kitchen, as well as near Interstate 78 and other major roadways. The project was developed through a joint venture between J.G. Petrucci Company and BGO Cold Chain, with construction managed by Petrucci's in-house firm, J.G. Petrucci Company.

A First Dedicated Cold Storage Facility for Freshpet

For Freshpet, the lease represents an operational expansion tied directly to the company's distribution needs. The pet food brand produces fresh, minimally processed meals and treats for dogs and cats using ingredients such as real meat, fruits and vegetables, with no fillers or preservatives. Its recipes are steam-cooked at lower temperatures, requiring refrigerated handling throughout the supply chain.

"This new distribution center is an important step forward as we continue to grow alongside the families who count on us," said Nicki Baty, Chief Operating Officer at Freshpet. "Located just minutes from our Bethlehem Kitchen, it gives us greater control over our operations and the scalability we need to keep pace with our growth, while positioning us to support Freshpet for years to come."

Freshpet's commercial office is in Bedminster, New Jersey, with its Technical Center and Kitchens in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and additional Kitchens in Ennis, Texas. The company distributes its products through grocery, mass, digital, pet specialty and club retailers across the United States, Canada and Europe, as well as online in the U.S.

J.G. Petrucci Company and BGO Cold Chain on the Development

Kevin Rivest, Managing Partner at BGO, said the transaction reflects both the partnership's execution capabilities and broader market conditions. "Petrucci has been an exceptional partner, bringing specialist expertise and a shared commitment to quality and strong execution," Rivest said. "Freshpet's lease of the entire facility underscores the growing demand for modern cold chain infrastructure in this market."

J.G. Petrucci Company is a vertically integrated development and design-build firm with more than 38 years of experience and a track record of more than 22 million square feet of real estate delivered across Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The firm's in-house construction management subsidiary, Iron Hill Construction Management, is overseeing the build, which is described as on time and on budget.

BGO Cold Chain is BGO's dedicated cold storage investment and development business line. The platform has been involved in approximately 30 million square feet of cold storage transaction activity since 2015. BGO, together with Bell Partners — acquired by Sun Life and combined with BGO on July 2, 2026 — reported approximately $100 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2026. The firm operates offices in more than 25 cities across 12 countries and is part of SLC Management, the institutional alternatives and traditional asset management business of Sun Life.

Lehigh Valley Context and Regional Significance

Local economic development leaders framed the lease as part of a broader pattern of industrial investment in the Lehigh Valley region.

"Freshpet's impressive growth continues right along with the renaissance of the Lehigh Valley," said Don Cunningham, President and CEO of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. "We are grateful for the commitment of Freshpet to continue expanding here and for the great partnership between Petrucci and Freshpet to continue to provide new and expanded facilities for growth like this new building in South Bethlehem."

Kerry Wrobel, President of Lehigh Valley Industrial Park, also noted the deal's significance for the region's food manufacturing and cold chain logistics sector. "Freshpet's ongoing investment in Bethlehem is a testament to the strength of the Lehigh Valley for food manufacturing and cold chain logistics tenants," Wrobel said. "This facility builds on Freshpet's longstanding presence in the region and will increase their distribution capabilities."

Market Implications for Cold Chain Industrial Real Estate

The fully preleased status of the 757 Hellertown Road development reflects a pattern that has become more common in the current industrial real estate environment, where build-to-suit and user-specific projects have drawn continued attention even as broader capital markets have faced pressure from higher interest rates. Demand for cold storage space has been supported by supply-chain repositioning and sector-specific operational needs, particularly among food and beverage tenants requiring temperature-controlled distribution infrastructure.

BGO Cold Chain's involvement in roughly 30 million square feet of cold storage transactions since 2015 positions the platform as one of the larger institutional participants in the specialized cold-chain real estate segment globally. The Bethlehem project adds to that footprint while demonstrating continued appetite among institutional investors for preleased, mission-critical industrial assets in established manufacturing markets.

The 216,000-square-foot facility at 757 Hellertown Road is expected to reach completion by the end of 2026.

Sources

BGO Press Release: J.G. Petrucci and BGO Cold Chain Announce Bethlehem Cold Storage Development Fully Leased to Freshpet Ahead of Year-End Completion