FASTFRATE GROUP OPENS NEW FACILITY AT CENTREPORT CANADA RAIL PARK

$55 million investment positions Fastfrate Group for expanded services in Manitoba and Western Canada

ROSSER, MB, Nov. 21, 2024 /CNW/ - Fastfrate Group, a leader in Canadian transportation and supply chain solutions, is proud to announce the grand opening of its brand-new, state-of-the-art facility, situated on 25 acres in Rosser, Manitoba. Fastfrate Group's new location is strategically located within the CentrePort Canada Rail Park, currently in development by Focus Equities Inc.

This milestone marks the completion of a $55-million project, strategically designed to enhance Fastfrate's presence in the Manitoba and Western Canada markets and provide a full range of transportation and logistics services to its clients.

"Fastfrate's expansion here in CentrePort is exciting, and once again highlights Manitoba as a transportation hub for North America. This strength enables Fastfrate to offer unique and efficient supply chain expertise. We are pleased to celebrate their growth in Manitoba," said Jamie Moses, Minister of Business, Mining, Trade, and Job Creation.

Fastfrate Group's new 114,000-square-foot facility brings together its three key divisions—Fastfrate, ASL Distribution Services, and Precision Parcel & Package Deliveries—under one roof. This co-location streamlines operations, enabling the company to offer a full range of services, including intermodal LTL and FTL, Intra-West Trucking, warehousing, distribution, and final mile parcel deliveries.

"This grand opening is a significant milestone for Fastfrate Group as we expand our footprint into Manitoba and Western Canada, and elevate our service offerings," said Manny Calandrino, CEO of Fastfrate Group. "We've been a part of the Winnipeg community for over 50 years, and this new facility will allow us to better meet the growing demands of our customers while creating new opportunities for the local economy."

With 56 dock doors and extensive cross-docking capabilities, the facility is designed to handle high volumes efficiently, ensuring smooth operations for both domestic and international shipments. The new facility is strategically located to capitalize on road and rail infrastructure and to expand cross-border services with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico corridor. Its proximity to major transportation routes enables Fastfrate to expedite shipments, tap into new markets, and meet the growing demand for cross-border services, drayage, and eCommerce fulfillment.

The new facility positions Fastfrate Group for continued growth in Manitoba, with plans to expand its workforce as operations scale. The co-location of Fastfrate, ASL Distribution Services, and Precision Parcel & Package Deliveries marks a significant operational milestone, enabling the company to deliver end-to-end supply chain solutions from one centralized location, enhancing efficiency and service offerings for its customers.

"This model of integrating multiple service lines under one roof will be a blueprint for future expansion in other regions," said Ron Tepper, Executive Chairman of Fastfrate Group. "It's a transformative step for our business, and we are excited about the positive impact it will have on our clients and the Manitoba community."

"Today marks an incredible milestone in Rosser as we celebrate Fastfrate Group's grand opening in the Rail Park," said Reeve Ken Mulligan, RM of Rosser. "Fastfrate broke ground on this site in 2023, and we are delighted to see this transformational project open and operational less than a year and a half later."

"The CentrePort Canada Rail Park is critical to the trimodal inland port's vision and value proposition," said Carly Edmundson, President and CEO of CentrePort Canada Inc. "Congratulations to Fastfrate Group on their new facilities, and on being the first company to start operations in the Rail Park."

Focus Equities developer of CentrePort Canada Rail Park is pleased to congratulate Fastfrate Group on the grand opening of their impressive new facility. "We're thrilled to welcome Fastfrate Group to CentrePort Canada Rail Park," said Chris Reiter, Senior Development Manager for Focus Equities. "Their commitment to enhancing transportation and supply chain solutions aligns perfectly with our vision of making CentrePort Canada Rail Park a leading logistics and intermodal gateway in North America."

About Fastfrate Group
Fastfrate Group is one of Canada's largest privately held providers of transportation and supply chain solutions. With over 58 years of experience, Fastfrate offers a comprehensive suite of services including LTL, FTL, intermodal transportation, warehousing, cross-docking, eCommerce solutions, and more. Fastfrate Group operates in major markets across Canada and the U.S., serving a wide range of industries with customized logistics solutions. www.fastfrate.com

About CentrePort Canada
CentrePort Canada is a 20,000-acre inland port and Foreign Trade Zone. Located in the heart of North America, CentrePort connects to major national and international trade gateways and corridors and is the only inland port in the country with direct access to tri-modal transportation – extensive truck, rail, and air cargo operations. www.centreportcanada.ca

About Focus Equities Inc./CentrePort Canada Rail Park
Focus Equities Inc., a Canadian corporation, provides development, investment, and project financing in real estate and infrastructure. Founded over 50 years ago by Canadian entrepreneur Kenneth W. Mariash, Sr., a graduate architect with an MBA, Bachelor of Commerce, and BSc., Focus Equities Inc. and its associated companies have developed, purchased, or sold millions of square feet of real estate and thousands of residential/condominium units in North America. Focus Equities Inc. is currently developing projects in North America valued at more than US$5 billion and has a long track record of successful innovative financial structures. For more information, visit www.focusequities.com and www.centreportcanadarailpark.com

SOURCE Fastfrate Group

For media inquiries, please contact: Fastfrate Group, Anh Thai, Director of Marketing, 416.399.0677, [email protected]; CentrePort Canada Inc., Aimee Goyer, Executive Director, Strategic Initiatives & Marketing, 204.981.8845, [email protected]; Focus Equities Inc./CentrePort Canada Rail Park, Chris Reiter, Sr. Development Manager, 250.920.6768, [email protected]