D’Arrigo New York buys another facility in South Bronx

Bronx, N.Y.-based D’Arrigo New York acquired more facilities in South Bronx, part of its steady, incremental improvements for the last 73 years.

The fresh produce distributor finalized the deal in March on the 1303 Randall Ave. property, less than a mile from headquarters inside the Hunts Point Produce Market and even closer to its retail distribution and banana facility, said vice president of operations Kevin D’Arrigo in a May 25 newsletter.

The 18,000-square-foot building will have 10 banana ripening rooms, almost doubling capacity. The facility will also expand D’Arrigo New York’s refrigerated warehouse capacity by 35 loads. The addition will help warehouse operations run more efficiently, he said.

“This new facility should help provide extra flexibility and alleviate inventory surpluses. Our customers will enjoy a more streamlined operation at our market facility, and our shippers will benefit from the additional cold storage capacity,” D’Arrigo said in the newsletter.

One of the company’s goals is to expand in the most eco-conscious way as possible.

With that goal in mind, the new refrigeration system will have three temperature zones and custom-designed controls to maximize energy efficiency. This will save 30% of the energy usage compared to older systems without sacrificing any integrity to the cold chain, according to the release.

“D’Arrigo New York is thrilled to expand within the South Bronx and keep our operations close to home,” D’Arrigo said in the newsletter. “From the beginning, our company has taken pride in the opportunity to support the local community, and this latest venture allows us to further pursue this core value.”

The company has made a number of changes in the last year or so, including creating a new website and updating facilities in its Hunts Point market headquarters.