Baking & Snack - December 2024 - 76

DESIGN & BUILD
are another reason to carefully consider
geography. "
When choosing a new site, it's important
to understand the full costs
of developing the land.
" The cost to bring new utilities
to a site, level the topography, mitigate
wetlands and find 'good dirt' all
contribute to the initial investment
needed before a facility can be constructed, "
said JD Boone, business
unit leader, A M King.
Companies must clearly define
what they want in a new building by
developing a set of functional specs,
Kline said. That includes identifying
all the critical aspects of the business
Hiring the right
engineering and
construction
team can make
the planning and
execution of a new
project go more
smoothly.
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MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) contractor,
foundation, concrete and steel. We showed them the
designs, and they offered suggestions from a practical
perspective. You get that from your subcontractor when
you go through the bidding and award process early to
determine who your partners will be on the project. "
Companies sometimes try to do too much themselves.
" They should think early in the process of hiring the
right engineering firm to help them up front, " Watson
said. " Firms like Austin and others have expertise in this
area that could help guide them early on. Obviously,
things like utilities, easy access to major highways, business
environment in the area where they're looking,
workforce and ability to tap into local and state incentives
are all critical when looking for a new site. "
" SURROUNDING YOURSELF
WITH A HIGHLY CAPABLE
TEAM, ONE WITH
POSITIVE ENERGY AND
RESOURCEFULNESS IS
PROBABLY THE BEST WAY TO
ENSURE A GOOD OUTCOME. "
Dan Myers, Carolina Foods
Location plays a major role in the success of a greenfield
bakery.
" Companies should carefully consider how they prioritize
aspects such as proximity to markets (for fresh
bread), talent availability, proximity to raw materials,
transportation routes and utility access, " said Pablo
Coronel, senior fellow, food process and safety, CRB
Group. " Local regulations and government incentives
76 Baking & Snack December 2024 / www.bakingbusiness.com
and ensuring there are no obstacles.
" One of the things we find that becomes wrong is the
functionality of the facility if it's not defined sufficiently
before they get started, " he said.
He said he knew of one plant that was built before the
owners found out that the area did not allow trucks to
be run between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. The company had to
move the finished product before 11 p.m. to another site
where it was shipped in the early morning hours.
Courtney Dunbar, director, site selection, Burns &
McDonnell, said knowing what it takes to produce the
goods being made in the facility and where those products
are being shipped are important considerations in
choosing the best spot for a new bakery. Each project is
unique so identifying all the important information -
taxes, incentives, labor, logistics, etc. - about what's going
into the project must be considered.
" In all of my years in site selection, I have never had a
particular client that matched the critical factors and inputs
of another, " she said. " It's exceedingly important for
the company to work with a team that can help them identify
critical factors so that those are weighted correctly. "
Building it right
When bakers are planning a greenfield, process, functionality
and flow are top considerations in addition to
figuring out what products, and how much of them, will
be made down the road.
" Process, process, process: That's the top consideration, "
Kline said. " You want to have the greatest efficiency
you can in your process and not be constrained
by the building. The building, therefore, should not be
constrained by the site. What layout do you want to
work with? Are you building so the building can be expanded
in the future? In which case that lends itself to a
certain type of layout with the process in the building. "
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Baking & Snack - December 2024

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