Overview of the Florence, SC Distribution Facility

A M King provided integrated Design-Build services for Cheney Brothers’ newest refrigerated distribution facility in Florence, South Carolina — the company’s first location in the state and its fourth major project completed with A M King.

Spanning more than 386,000 square feet, the temperature-controlled facility was developed to expand Cheney Brothers’ regional footprint while supporting efficient, high-volume food distribution operations. As Byron Russell, Chairman and CEO of Cheney Brothers, noted, the new facility is positioned to “enhance our customer service and achieve a higher level of customer satisfaction,” reinforcing its role as a key investment in the company’s continued growth.

Located on nearly 50 acres within the Pee Dee Commerce City East Industrial Park, the site offers strategic access to major transportation routes, including the I-95 corridor, allowing Cheney Brothers to more effectively serve customers across the Southeast.

Cold Storage Facility Design & Features

The facility was designed to support a wide range of cold storage, freezer, and food distribution operations within a single, highly coordinated environment. Key components include:

• Extensive dry storage and dedicated dock space
• Large-scale freezer and cooler environments with multiple temperature zones for specialized product storage
• A Cheney Express retail component with integrated walk-in cooler
• Office and administrative space to support daily operations
• A test kitchen — the largest developed for Cheney Brothers to date

The building also incorporates infrastructure for future expansion, allowing the facility to scale alongside the company’s continued growth.

Engineering Solutions for Food Distribution Facilities

To enhance operational efficiency and safety, the project includes a robotic forklift battery exchange system — a first for a Cheney Brothers facility.

A M King’s Design-Build approach also allowed for the seamless integration of structural resilience strategies, combining high-wind protection with seismic flexibility into a single, durable solution tailored to the demands of industrial food distribution environments.

Results: Expanding Food Distribution Capacity in the Southeast

The completed facility positions Cheney Brothers to significantly expand its reach throughout the Southeast while improving service capabilities and operational efficiency. The project builds on a long-standing partnership between A M King and Cheney Brothers, rooted in delivering complex cold storage and food distribution construction projects.