Bethlehem, PA (August 11, 2026) – J.G. Petrucci Company, Inc. (Petrucci) and BGO Cold Chain announced today that Freshpet, the first-to-market and leading fresh pet food brand, has leased in its entirety their 216,000-square-foot cold storage development at 757 Hellertown Road in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The facility is scheduled for on-time and on-budget completion by year-end 2026. Developed through a joint venture between Petrucci and BGO Cold Chain, the project reflects the strength of the partnership and the firms’ shared expertise in delivering complex cold storage facilities.
The facility is Freshpet’s first dedicated cold storage facility, contributing to the effective distribution of their temperature-sensitive products. The location offers excellent proximity to their existing Bethlehem Kitchen, as well as convenient access to I-78 and other major roadways.
"Petrucci has been an exceptional partner, bringing specialist expertise and a shared commitment to quality and strong execution," said Kevin Rivest, Managing Partner, BGO. "Freshpet's lease of the entire facility underscores the growing demand for modern cold chain infrastructure in this market."
Freshpet makes fresh, minimally processed meals and treats for dogs and cats using simple ingredients like real meat, fruits and vegetables with no fillers or preservatives. Their recipes are steam-cooked at lower temperatures to offer a fresh alternative to traditional processed pet food. This differentiated approach to pet nutrition reflects the brand’s ongoing commitment to raising expectations around nutrition, freshness, and care. Freshpet's Commercial Office is in Bedminster, New Jersey, its Technical Center and Kitchens are in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and it has additional Kitchens in Ennis, Texas.
"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 impressive growth continues right along with the renaissance of the Lehigh Valley,” said Don Cunningham, President & 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.”
"Freshpet's ongoing investment in Bethlehem is a testament to the strength of the Lehigh Valley for food manufacturing and cold chain logistics tenants," says Kerry Wrobel, President of Lehigh Valley Industrial Park. "This facility builds on Freshpet's longstanding presence in the region and will increase their distribution capabilities."
Construction was completed by Petrucci’s in-house construction management firm, Iron Hill Construction Management.
BGO is a leading, global real estate investment management advisor and a globally-recognized provider of real estate services. BGO serves the interests of more than 750 institutional clients, and had, together with Bell Partners Inc., which was acquired by Sun Life and combined with BGO on July 2, 2026, approximately US$100 billion of assets under management (as of June 30, 2026) and expertise in the asset management of office, industrial, multi-residential, retail and hospitality property across the globe. BGO has offices in more than 25 cities across twelve countries with deep, local knowledge, experience, and extensive networks in the regions where we invest in and manage real estate assets on behalf of our clients in primary, secondary and co-investment markets. BGO is a part of SLC Management, the institutional alternatives and traditional asset management business of Sun Life.
BGO Cold Chain is the firm’s dedicated business line representing its global breadth of cold storage real estate investment management, asset management, and development activity on behalf of its institutional investors. BGO Cold Chain is amongst the largest cold storage investors in the world, with approximately 30 million square feet of transaction activity since 2015. Leveraging deep expertise in cold storage real estate, BGO Cold Chain has extensive experience in leading build-to-suit and speculative projects, with an established track-record for delivering high-performance, sustainable solutions.
For more information, please visit www.bgo.com
J.G. Petrucci Company, Inc. is a vertically integrated Development and Design/Build firm specializing in commercial, industrial, and residential projects. With over 38 years of experience, Petrucci has developed and delivered more than 22 million square feet of real estate throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. For more information and current sites available for development, visit http://www.jgpetrucci.com.
Freshpet's mission is to help dogs and cats live longer, happier, healthier lives with the people who love them. Developed by on-staff Veterinary Nutritionists, Veterinarians and Food Scientists, recipes are made from whole ingredients, like fresh meats, vegetables and fruits, and are cooked in small batches at lower temperatures to preserve their natural goodness and made at our Freshpet Kitchens. Freshpet foods and treats are kept refrigerated until they arrive at Freshpet fridges in local markets or delivered directly to consumers.
Freshpet is available in select grocery, mass, digital, pet specialty, and club retailers across the United States, Canada and Europe, as well as online in the U.S. From the care they take to source their ingredients and make their food, to the moment it reaches your home, Freshpet's commitment to integrity, transparency and social responsibility is a point of pride.
Media Contacts
Zoe Boone, J.G. Petrucci Company, Inc.
zboone@jgpetrucci.com
908-335-8392
Rahim Ladha, BGO
media@bgo.com