At a Golden Spike ceremony marking the completion of its Phase I development and rail line, The Northern Plains Commerce Centre (NPCC) announced it has reached an agreement to provide United Pulse Trading with a 90,000 square foot facility for the processing of global agricultural products.

"This agreement demonstrates that it won't be long before we are ready to provide a range of supply chain management services in the Northern Plains," says Cathy Spencer, NPCC general manager for Mallory Alexander International Logistics Mallory Alexander manages and operates The NPCC for the City of Bismarck.

The golden spike ceremony marked completion of the Phase I roads, water and sewer, as well as construction of the mainline rail and spur line to the Bobcat Manufacturing Support Center.

"State, business and community leaders are here today to help us celebrate the completion of the first phase rail line and the continued development and growth of The NPCC," said Commissioner Sandi Tabor. "These are exhilarating times for Bismarck, the region and the state."

The formation of United Pulse Trading will be a result of the new agreement with the international investor's group of Saskcan Pulse Trading Inc. of Canada. It will build a multi-line plant capable of processing 150,000 metric tons annually of lentils, peas and durum wheat.

"Our investor's group is successfully running processing and export operations in Turkey and Canada," says Murad Al-Katib, president, Saskcan Pulse Trading. "We are the world's largest exporter of split and value-added pulses. We are excited about the prospects in North Dakota to provide a market outlet for locally grown products."

The pulse industry includes the processing of peas, lentils and bulgur (split durum wheat).

"We like the freight options at The NPCC," says Al-Katib. "We look forward to working with Bobcat, Mallory Alexander and other companies of The NPCC to provide volume needed to ensure that ocean containers come to Bismarck."

Mallory Alexander's role includes managing The NPCC as well as providing warehousing, cross-docking, complete third-party logistics and international freight forwarding for shippers in need of these services.

About The Northern Plains Commerce Centre
The Northern Plains Commerce Centre (www.npccbismarck.com) is a full-service commerce center, offering one convenient location to reach markets anywhere in North America and around the world. The NPCC, operated and managed by Mallory Alexander International Logistics, is being built on the Northern Plains, at Bismarck, North Dakota. Highway, rail, ocean or air shippers will use the 243-acre NPCC as their gateway to the world.

Located adjacent to the Bismarck airport, The NPCC will have intermodal capabilities with rail and highway service, warehousing and transloading facilities. Rail service will be provided by long-haul carrier Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) via a direct connection with Dakota, Missouri Valley and Western railroad.

Highway shipments have easy access to the facilities from Interstate 94. The Center is located adjacent to airport property and it is expected that airfreight service will be developed.

About Mallory Alexander International Logistics
Mallory Alexander International Logistics (www.mallorygroup.com) is a leading third-party logistics (3PL) provider. As a specialist in global logistics and supply chain services, Mallory Alexander acts as a single source for all logistics and supply chain needs. Specifically, Mallory Alexander provides public and contract warehousing, freight forwarding (international, domestic, air and ocean), custom brokerage, import/export services, intermodal trucking and transportation, logistics services and consulting.

Mallory Alexander is a fourth-generation company, with 19 offices and 32 worldwide warehouse operations and distribution centers. The company has more than 500 employees. Previously, Mallory Alexander was known as Alexander International and Mallory Distribution Centers, which operated as separate subsidiaries of The Mallory Group.

Source: Press Release