---
title: Rice Companies' Food and Beverage Expertise
description: Rice Companies brings specialized construction experience to food and beverage facilities across the Midwest, from large-scale grocery distribution to food processing, cold storage, and food service.
---

[News](https://ricecompanies.com/news)

# [Rice Companies' Food and Beverage Expertise](https://ricecompanies.com/news/rice-companies-food-and-beverage-expertise)

 Written by [Rice Companies](https://ricecompanies.com/news/author/rice-companies) | Oct 19, 2026, 2:00:01 PM

## **The Portfolio**

- [**Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG)**](https://ricecompanies.com/projects/associated-wholesale-grocers) | St. Cloud, MN | 320,000 sq ft | Regional grocery distribution center with refrigeration, high-density pallet racking, and large-volume dock operations
- [**AWG: Fleet Maintenance Facility**](https://ricecompanies.com/projects/awg-maintenance-facility) | Kenosha, WI | 17,200 sq ft | Fleet maintenance facility with drive-through maintenance bays and wash bays supporting AWG regional distribution operations
- [**Appert’s Food Service (Sysco)**](https://ricecompanies.com/projects/apperts-food-service) | St. Cloud, MN | 76,500 sq ft addition | Freezer, cooler, and dry storage expansion with precast wall and roof systems and coordinated refrigeration
- [**Bernick’s**](https://ricecompanies.com/projects/bernicks-warehouse) | Waite Park, MN | 37,000 sq ft | Combined warehouse, freezer, and deep-freezer facility with integrated racking and loading dock access
- [**First District Association**](https://ricecompanies.com/projects/fda-plant) | Litchfield, MN | 20,000 sq ft | Dairy processing facility with ammonia and compressor room, clean-in-place room, and welfare space
- [**Trident Seafoods**](https://ricecompanies.com/projects/trident-seafoods) | Motley, MN | 19,000 sq ft | Food processing and cold storage with temperature-controlled environments and operational loading access

 

Additional food and beverage work includes [**Performance Food Group**](https://ricecompanies.com/projects/performance-food-group)’s cheese shredding production facility in Rice, MN; [**Gluek Brewery**](https://ricecompanies.com/projects/gluek)’s 401,000 sq ft distribution and warehouse complex in Cold Spring, MN; brewery construction for [**Bad Habit Brewing**](https://ricecompanies.com/projects/bad-habit-brewing); and food service work for [**Caribou Coffee**](https://ricecompanies.com/projects/caribou-coffee), [**Chipotle and Noodles**](https://ricecompanies.com/projects/chipotle-noodles), and [**Tri-Brands**](https://ricecompanies.com/projects/tri-brands).

## **How Rice Works**

**Operational Understanding.** Rice collaborates with owners, engineers, and consultants early to understand processing, sanitation, and regulatory requirements before design begins.

**Design and Engineering.** Layouts are developed around product flow, temperature zoning, equipment placement, and employee movement.

**Preconstruction and Permitting.** Materials, systems, and finishes are aligned with budget and performance goals. Municipal coordination reduces risk and schedule delays before construction starts.

**Construction and System Integration.** Rice coordinates mechanical, refrigeration, and process systems throughout the build, delivering facilities ready for certification, inspection, and startup.

## **What Rice Builds**

Rice builds food and beverage production and processing facilities, packaging and bottling facilities, cold storage and freezer buildings, and distribution centers. Every facility is built with washdown-ready construction, sanitary finishes, floor systems rated for moisture and chemicals, and high-performance mechanical, refrigeration, and ventilation systems. Phased construction keeps active facilities operational during the build.

If you have a food and beverage project, Rice Companies has done this work before. Talk to the team about what your facility needs.

[**Get in touch with Rice Companies.**](https://www.ricecompanies.com/contact)

[View full post](https://ricecompanies.com/news/rice-companies-food-and-beverage-expertise)

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