Category Archives: KC SmartPort

Kansas City is rapidly solidifying its role as one of the top destinations for food and beverage manufacturing in the United States. Ranked sixth nationally in the Global Location Strategies 2025 Best Places for Food Manufacturing report, the region stands out for its exceptional blend of location quality, business-friendly operating costs and deep industry expertise.

Located in the heart of the West North Central region – spanning from North Dakota through Missouri as defined by the report – Kansas City anchors one of the fastest-growing food manufacturing corridors in the country. Despite the region having just half as many metros as its eastern counterpart, it captured 18% of all U.S. food manufacturing project announcements between 2023 and 2024. Kansas City played a leading role in that success, especially in high-demand sectors like animal food manufacturing, grain and oilseed milling and dairy products.

What makes the Kansas City region so attractive to food manufacturers is its unmatched combination of infrastructure, talent and proximity to agricultural supply chains. Companies benefit from a central U.S. location with strong rail, highway and distribution access, enabling fast and cost-effective movement of raw materials and finished goods. The region’s skilled workforce offers a reliable labor pipeline that continues to evolve alongside increased automation and industry innovation.

As food and beverage companies seek resilient and strategically located operations, Kansas City is proving it can deliver. Whether it’s a greenfield facility, expansion, or supply chain optimization, Kansas City has the infrastructure, workforce and momentum to support long-term success in this critical sector.

Get the full report.

Kansas City has emerged as one of the most attractive destinations in the country for institutional industrial investment — with out-of-market investors acquiring over 3.6 million square feet of Class A industrial space in the past six months. 

So, why is outside capital flowing in from investment firms at such a rapid pace?

It starts with infrastructure. Investors are drawn to Kansas City’s ability to move product efficiently across all primary modes of transportation. KC offers a central location that puts 90% of the U.S. population within a two-day truck drive — a key advantage in today’s fast-moving supply chain landscape.

That connectivity is further powered by four Class I railroads, strategic interstate access, a state-of-the-art airport and a robust intermodal network. Add in a steady stream of speculative development ready to meet tenant demand, and it’s clear why Kansas City has become a logistics powerhouse, catching widespread attention from national developers and real estate investment firms.

Then, there’s KC’s business climate. Compared to larger, higher cost markets, Kansas City provides an environment where firms can stretch their investment further without fear of market volatility.

“Kansas City’s business climate is a major draw for investors,” said Mark Long, president and CEO of Newmark Zimmer and chair of KC SmartPort’s Board of Directors. “With lower operating costs, a supportive regulatory environment and access to a skilled labor force, KC is a powerful, attractive option for both occupiers and capital partners.” 

And it’s all continuing to grow. Over the past year, a wave of institutional investment has flowed into KC’s industrial market, reflecting strong confidence in its long-term growth potential. Recent investments from Arch Street Capital, STAG Industrial and Sealy & Co. reflect a growing consensus — Kansas City is quickly rising to prominence as a national hub for industrial investment.

Some recent acquisitions from out-of-market investment firms include:

• Arch Street Capital acquired three buildings totaling 2.4 million square feet at Logistics Park Kansas City in Edgerton, KS
• Also at Logistics Park Kansas City, Sealy & Co. acquired 575,000 square feet
• Nearly 700,000 square feet were purchased by STAG Industrial near the Kansas City International Airport 

In addition, major brands – including Amazon and Walmart – have recently acquired hundreds of thousands of square feet of industrial space, reflecting strong investor confidence in the region.

As companies need to optimize their processes more efficiently than ever before, investors are increasingly looking beyond the largest Tier One markets and choosing regions that offer infrastructure, scalability and long-term value. 

The outcome: National attention and capital continue to flow into Kansas City, attracting new development and cementing the region’s role as a vital link in the North American supply chain.