Provender is a real estate company focused on acquiring existing food related industrial facilities, renovating them and leasing them to food distribution or processing companies. Primus and Provender first partnered together back in 2016 when we renovated three buildings formerly occupied by Kroger. It was a success, and we have completed or are currently providing services on several projects together.
Project Manager Erik Lyda is currently managing six Provender projects. “They are a unique client,” he said. “Every building is different. Every tenant’s needs are different. And there are no drawings. It requires a lot of critical thinking and problem solving.”
He finds the best way to break down and manage the work is to divide each project into different phases. They are:
Phase 1: Due Diligence. Primus reviews the project and offers recommendations.
Phase 2: Immediate Needs. This work focuses on immediate improvements that make the property attractive to tenants. This includes things like office renovations, carpet, flooring, paint and some refrigeration work.
Phase 3: Warehouse Updates. This phase is centered more on the warehouse. Projects include installing high speed doors, warehouse flooring, sprinkler updates, insulated metal panel repair etc.
Phase 4: Tenant Requirements. When Provender has acquired a tenant, the tenant’s needs become part of the project scope. For example, on our San Antonio project, the tenant requested a large breakroom with locker room space and ceramic floor tiling.
Provender projects require the ability to adapt quickly. Lyda and his teams must meet Provender’s needs as well as the needs of future tenants. “Every day is different,” Lyda said. “I learn something new with each project. Chris Mann has been a great PX.”
Primus’s recent Provender projects are:
• San Antonio, TX (Phase 4)
• Severn, MD (Phase 3 almost 4)
• Bolingbrook, IL (Phase 2)
• Oakland, CA (two projects, both in Phase 3)
• Lake Zurich, IL (Phase 1)
“These projects have all gone extremely well,” Lyda said. “I enjoy working with the client. It’s been a good experience.”