01
Facility Strategy & Investment Advisory
Compare build, buy, lease, expand, and modernize paths before capital is committed.
Food Manufacturing • Cold Chain • Logistics • Specialty Facilities Core markets: NY • NJ • PA • Northeast & West Coast / Available for select projects worldwide
Purpose-Built Facilities for the Food Supply Chain
The Hitchcock GRP is the owner-side advisor that helps determine the right facility investment—and then leads its execution from initial strategy through operational turnover.
Better Facility Decisions. Expertly Executed.
How we help owners
From Facility Decision Through Operational Turnover
The Hitchcock GRP helps owners determine the right facility investment—whether the path is to build, buy, lease, expand, or modernize. We coordinate the real-estate, design, engineering, construction, automation, and operating specialists around a clear decision and an executable plan.
We help owners evaluate modernization, automation, and innovation opportunities that improve capacity, resilience, and long-term operating flexibility.
During execution, we protect the operating business by aligning the work with production, safety, access, schedule, and budget. We stay accountable through commissioning, operational turnover, and future capital improvements.
Trusted by leading brands and operators
A decision document for owners
Facility Investment Decision Report
We bring the findings together in a clear report that compares the available paths, defines the facility and site requirements, establishes a preliminary capital plan, and recommends the next step.
- Comparative options analysis
- Facility and site requirements
- Preliminary capital plan
- Schedule and risk assessment
- Recommended path forward
Facility Strategy & Investment Advisory
Should You Build, Buy, Lease, Expand, or Modernize?
Before capital is committed, owners need an objective view of the operational, real-estate, infrastructure, cost, schedule, and risk implications of each path. We help define the decision, coordinate the right analysis, and turn it into a practical recommendation.
Build
Develop a purpose-built facility around production, logistics, utilities, and future growth.
Buy
Evaluate existing properties against process, food-safety, infrastructure, and expansion needs.
Lease
Understand lease terms, tenant improvements, control, flexibility, and long-term cost.
Expand
Add capacity within an operating facility while managing disruption, phasing, and future constraints.
Modernize
Improve an existing operation through targeted facility, process, utility, or technology investments.
An integrated food-infrastructure platform
Decide. Develop. Modernize. Automate. Deliver. Operate.
The Hitchcock GRP helps food manufacturers develop new facilities or modernize existing ones, integrate automation across the building and production environment, and evaluate innovation opportunities that can improve capacity, resilience, and long-term operating flexibility. We manage the capital project through startup. After commissioning, we can continue as the owner's facility management partner—overseeing the physical asset, maintenance systems, and future capital improvements.
02
Facility Development
Site strategy, feasibility, programming, due diligence, real estate, approvals, and capital planning.
03
Facility Modernization
Plan, coordinate, and phase construction within operating facilities, aligning expansion and renovation with production needs to minimize disruption.
04
Capital Project Delivery
Design oversight, procurement, construction management, cost and schedule control, commissioning, and turnover.
05
Automation Integration
Equipment automation and AI-enabled technology coordination to improve productivity, labor efficiency, and use of existing production capacity.
06
Asset Management
Physical-asset oversight, maintenance systems, vendor coordination, lifecycle planning, and future capital improvements.
Sectors
Specialized environments for the food supply chain
We support owners and operators whose facilities must balance food safety, temperature integrity, throughput, maintainability, and regulatory requirements.
Food Manufacturing
Our experience spans bakeries and a wide range of food manufacturing environments, including FDA-regulated and USDA-inspected facilities, SQF-certified operations, and facilities subject to state and local health, OSHA, EPA, and other applicable regulatory requirements. We anticipate project risks, assemble the right team, manage schedules, and maintain budget discipline. We focus on delivering the facility you need so you can focus on operating and growing your business. With more than 15 years of experience in food manufacturing and cold storage facilities, we understand the demands of these specialized projects.
“Zack explained the full process we needed, from dealing with the city for permits through starting operations. Throughout, we knew what was happening and what was next. It was my first construction project that I didn't lose sleep over.”
Temperature-Controlled and Cold Storage Facilities:
We oversee temperature-controlled facilities operating from 34°F to –72°F, coordinating refrigeration, the insulated building envelope, and everyday operating requirements to protect temperature integrity.
From planning through commissioning, we help minimize air infiltration and ice formation while supporting product safety, energy efficiency, and reliable operations.
Explore our cold-storage approach
Full facility lifecycle
Continuity from first decision through operations
A senior owner-side partner connects the facility decision, specialist coordination, active operations, project delivery, startup, and long-term asset performance.
-
01
Strategy
-
02
Site
-
03
Feasibility
-
04
Design
-
05
Construction
-
06
Commissioning
-
07
Asset Operations
Our role does not have to end at startup. We can continue managing the facility, maintenance program, vendor network, and capital-improvement roadmap as the operation evolves.
Project Delivery & Owner's Representation
We provide an accountable owner-side lead across planning, design, approvals, procurement, construction, and turnover.
Goal Setting
We work directly with internal stakeholders across departments to
ensure all business interests are integrated.
Site Selection
Collaborate on due diligence of potential sites to ensure
understanding of how each impacts budget and operational goals.
Representation for Permitting
We present the project for permitting and approvals at local
meetings and hearings.
Value Engineering
Guide design professionals on ways to lower project costs while
meeting business objectives.
Construction Management
We guide your project to completion by managing all aspects of
construction.
Budgeting Process
A fully managed process with the communication and guidance you
need from your goals through invoice approvals.
Scheduling
Site visits and organization of inspectors, subs, and your team
for smoother meetings and less wasted time.
Contractor RFP Process
We create a process that results in more accurate bids and
timelines.
Development & Asset Services
We align real estate decisions, facility requirements, capital plans, and long-term operating priorities.
Site Selection
Market, zoning, access, utility, and operational analysis to
evaluate candidate sites, supported by LOI and deal-term
oversight.
Lease Contract Oversight
Liaison between attorney and client to ensure terms and risks are
aligned with your long-term interests.
Financial Analysis
Deal, project, and budget analyses that answer your real-estate
questions.
Design & Engineering
Oversee and coordinate architects, engineers, and other design
professionals, including process engineers and production-flow
specialists for new or redesigned food-production rooms. Align
equipment layouts, operating flows, and facility infrastructure
with the owner's production goals.
Permitting & Insurance
Ensure appropriate levels of insurance and the right designations.
Drive the permitting process between expeditors and design team.
Asset Management
Create lease analyses and abstracts, operations budgets, and
purchase order and cost tracking systems.
Facility Management
Custom maintenance programs cost analysis of internal and
outsourced systems to keep your property humming.
Operational Readiness
Coordinate commissioning, training, documentation, maintenance
planning, and turnover so facility teams are prepared for
operation.
“Zack consistently went above and beyond to ensure the job was done correctly. He has a special combination of incredible work ethic, intelligence, knowledge of his craft, communication skills and passion for what he does.”
Selected project experience
Meat Processing Facility
New Jersey • 68,000 square feet • Meat processing and cold storage
- Facility requirements
- 36°F refrigerated areas, including the processing room and loading dock; 0°F freezer storage; a −20°F blast freezer for product; office space for the company headquarters; and ambient dry warehouse space for materials.
- The challenge
- The owner needed a single point of oversight for a new, purpose-built facility while remaining focused on running the business. The project also coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, adding challenges throughout delivery.
- Our role
- The Hitchcock GRP joined before design began and provided owner-side oversight through facility opening. Our role included design oversight and coordination across mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and civil engineering; value engineering, budgeting, and cost analysis; management of the bidding process, bid leveling, and general contractor selection. As the owner’s liaison and single point of communication, we oversaw project completion, equipment installation, commissioning, and move-in.
- The result
- Delivered a new, ground-up meat processing and cold-storage facility purpose-built for the owner’s operations. Through the challenges of the pandemic, The Hitchcock GRP maintained disciplined oversight and continuity from early planning through opening. Our involvement continues today through select asset management responsibilities.
Baking Facility
New Jersey • 55,000 square feet • Warehouse-to-bakery conversion
- The challenge
- Transform an existing warehouse and distribution facility into a purpose-built commercial bakery, bringing bakery production, ambient storage, coolers, and freezers together within a single facility.
- Our role
- The Hitchcock GRP guided the project from real estate sourcing and acquisition through design, construction, and client turnover. THG provided continuity across the real estate and construction phases, coordinating delivery of a space tailored to the client’s production and storage requirements.
- The result
- A completed bakery and production facility delivered to the client on time.
Frozen Food Manufacturing Facility
New Jersey • 25,000 square feet • New production facility
- The challenge
- A growing manufacturer of bite-sized frozen appetizers had outgrown its existing operation and needed a facility capable of supporting increased demand while accommodating future growth.
- Our role
- The Hitchcock GRP provided project management for the design and construction of a new 25,000-square-foot food-processing facility. The project addressed the manufacturer’s immediate production needs while incorporating the capability to expand as the business developed.
- The result
- A facility designed to support the company’s next stage of growth, with room for future expansion.
Ready-to-Eat Food Manufacturing Facility
New Jersey • Multi-phase expansion and renovation • Operating production facility
- The challenge
- A ready-to-eat food manufacturer needed to expand and adapt its existing facility to meet growing demand and evolving product requirements, while introducing new automated equipment to increase productivity. Integrating the equipment and supporting utility upgrades within an operating production environment added complexity to project planning and coordination.
- Our role
- The Hitchcock GRP served as project manager and owner’s representative for design and construction across multiple phases of expansion and renovation. We coordinated utility upgrades to accommodate the expanded facility and new automated equipment, and oversaw equipment installation and commissioning following delivery. Our role provided coordinated owner-side oversight as the facility evolved alongside the business.
- Project focus
- Aligning phased facility improvements with changing production needs within an active manufacturing operation.
Seafood Processing Facility — Brooklyn
New York City • Approximately 34,000 square feet • Building renovation and tenant fit-out
- The challenge
- Prepare approximately 34,000 square feet within an existing building at the Brooklyn Navy Yard for a seafood-processing tenant, bringing together base-building improvements and specialized food-processing requirements.
- Our role
- The Hitchcock GRP provided project oversight for the renovation. The scope combined building-code upgrades with a comprehensive tenant fit-out incorporating offices, processing areas, and refrigerated storage within one coordinated renovation.
- The result
- An existing building upgraded and fitted out to accommodate a seafood-processing operation.
How we work
A clear starting point. A coordinated path forward.
Bring us in when you're defining the opportunity or when an existing project needs direction. We shape our involvement around your priorities and project stage.
-
01
Initial discussion
We start with your business goals, facility requirements, current constraints, and timing.
-
02
Scope and feasibility
We clarify the decisions ahead, assess key risks, and define where owner-side support will be most useful.
-
03
Project planning
We align responsibilities, budget, schedule, and the right technical team around an agreed scope.
-
04
Delivery and turnover
We coordinate the agreed work through execution, commissioning, and operational readiness, with ongoing asset support when needed.