Crop inputs supplier Meristem Crop Performance Group LLC, Columbus, Ohio, announced on March 2 that it has built and opened a new 20,000-square-foot warehouse in Westfield, Ind., in the northern suburb of Indianapolis, Ind.
The company said the new site “provides an eastern capability for Meristem,” with logistics and fulfillment supported by another Meristem warehouse in Fremont, Neb. The Westfield warehouse is already accepting and staging inventory for the 2023 crop season.
“We’re very excited about this next step in our modified direct-to-farm distribution solution to help us cut waste and drive down costs for Meristem farmer-customers,” said Mitch Eviston, Meristem Founder and CEO. “This big, new, efficient warehouse is at the heart of our mission to assure that we can efficiently get farmers what they need when they need it.”
John Gertz, Meristem’s Chief Operating Officer, said customer pick-ups and outbound shipments at the Westfield warehouse began during the last week of January. “After coming through the ups and downs of logistics during the pandemic, we knew we needed to build excellence in order fulfillment, and with these warehouses east and west, we are well on the way,” he said.
Meristem has hired Nikki Decesare and Jim Clay to run the new warehouse. Decesare and Clay will join Meristem veteran Ashley McCann, Sales and Customer Care Manager, to spearhead the company’s new customer care initiative, which Meristem said is designed to “assure a first-class customer experience and product stewardship for every farmer-customer.”
“As we’ve grown to reach several million acres all across the country, we’ve gained a lot of insight to what’s needed to bring a positive experience to farmers, plus continue our drive to make it efficient,” McCann said. “Communication is key, and that’s why we’re also hiring another three customer care associates to assure that we stay connected to customers.”