Jim Alberico, Sr. brings a whole new meaning to keeping it cool. His facility at ALCOR Cold Storage provides nearly 2 million cubic feet of fully racked freezer and cooler space to manufacturers looking to store their products. “We store everything from fruits and juices to turkeys and pizza,” Jim says. “Whether its raw or finished product, we can hold it in our coolers and freezers.”

Jim saw an opportunity to make an impact. His place of employment wanted out of the warehousing business, and he wanted to take that part out on his own. “So I asked for their list of customers,” Jim says. “I met with the customers, and they decided to stay with me. I had experience in the warehousing business and I knew I could provide the services they wanted to meet their demand.”

In the fall of 1979, Alberico began ALCOR out of a leased office and freezer space. Since then, the business has doubled under the leadership of Alberico, his wife Nila and their three sons, James, Jeffery and John. “In 30 years, we've become a regional player in the warehousing business,” Jim says.

ALCOR's warehousing facility is USDA approved, listed with the FDA and associated with the International Association of Refrigerated Warehouses and World Food Logistics Organization to maintain food safety and quality control. Temperature ranges are anywhere from minus 10 to minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit in the freezer, and 38 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit in the cooler.

“Think of our facility as a larger version of your refrigerator and freezer at home,” Jim says. “In our freezer, we can store up to 10,000 pallets of goods. We look primarily to local businesses that have need of our services.

ALCOR provides 14 refrigerated loading docks for trucks carrying those goods. ALCOR also has direct access to commercial railroads, with three refrigerated railcar loading docks located in their facility.

Location is everything, and ALCOR believes Erie is a great place to do business. “Erie is very strategically located,” Jim says. “We've got trucking and trains at our disposal. We're able to access 70 percent of the U.S. population within 500 miles of our location. We also have easy access to major interstates, thruways and turnpikes. Doing business with ALCOR here in Erie means getting your products out faster.”

When you store your products at ALCOR, you know you're getting a facility where efficiency is held in the highest regard. “We use the latest technology –Inventory Management Software — to manage what's in our facility and to keep on schedule,” Jim says. “Our building is equipped with a sprinkler system and ADT security to keep your products safe.

Meeting the needs of customers has always been the goal of ALCOR, a family-run business. “Working with my family has been very special,” Jim says. “I've enjoyed being able to grow the business with them. We love working together to service our customers.”