When people think about restaurant operations, they probably don’t picture a warehouse.
But for Border Foods, the opening of our first standalone warehouse — affectionately known as our “South Campus” because of its proximity to the home office — marks a major milestone in how we support Taco Bells across our system.
More than a place to store equipment and supplies, the new warehouse serves as a centralized hub for technology, facilities and remodel operations. By bringing inventory, expertise and key departments under one roof, we’re creating faster solutions, stronger collaboration and new opportunities for growth.
To learn more about the impact of this investment, we sat down with recently promoted Director of Construction Nate Wenger.
The new warehouse is a collaborative environment where our main focus is supporting Border Foods in any way we can.
– Nate Wenger, Director of Construction
A New Era of Restaurant Support
The need for a dedicated warehouse had been building for years.
Before the creation of our south campus, we relied on multiple unmanned storage spaces spread throughout the Upper Midwest. While the setup worked for emergency situations, it created challenges around inventory management, shipping logistics and overall organization.
“Thankfully, the right location became available and allowed us to keep office staff close to the home office,” Nate explains. “Combined with our ongoing storage lease expenses and the introduction of internal technology technicians, it became clear that we needed a dedicated, manned space.”
Today, our new warehouse location allows us to order, stock and ship items quickly from one central location.
The result? Faster service and less downtime for restaurants, which also means increased guest satisfaction!
“This warehouse gives us the opportunity to house parts, equipment and tech support right at our fingertips,” Nate shares. “Restaurants should see quicker turnaround on requested service.”
From Storage Space to Service Center
While the warehouse certainly provides more room, the real value lies in what it allows our team to do.
By maintaining inventory on-site, we can respond more quickly when critical equipment fails or technology issues arise. Instead of waiting days — or even weeks — for outside vendors and suppliers, the team can often provide same-day or next-day support.
“When a fryer went down in our Wausau market, we were able to pull parts from a used fryer and overnight them to the servicing technician,” he says. “The fryer was back up and running in less than 24 hours. Without this setup, we may have waited up to a week for parts to arrive.”
For restaurant teams, that speed can make a significant difference in both operations and the guest experience.
More Than a Warehouse
One of the unique aspects of our south campus is that it doesn’t just house inventory — it houses people!
The Facilities, Technology and Remodel teams now share the same workspace, creating an environment where collaboration happens naturally throughout the day.
Because team members are working alongside the parts, equipment and inventory they support, they can troubleshoot issues, share expertise and find solutions more efficiently. According to Nate, that proximity has already transformed the way the departments work together.
“The turnaround time on issue resolution has greatly improved and the teamwork atmosphere is very healthy,” he says.
Building for What’s Next
For Nate, one of the most exciting aspects of having a standalone warehouse is what it represents for the future.
The warehouse serves as a foundation for Border Foods’ growing internal service capabilities. While today’s focus includes technology support, the model creates opportunities to expand support services even further in the years ahead. It also demonstrates Border Foods’ commitment to investing in long-term solutions that help all of our Taco Bells operate more efficiently.
As we continue to grow, we have the infrastructure needed to scale support while maintaining the responsiveness restaurant teams depend on.
A Milestone Worth Celebrating
When Nate first walked into the completed warehouse, one thought immediately came to mind: “It feels like home.”
That sense of ownership reflects the work that went into bringing this project to life. From consolidating inventory across multiple storage locations to creating systems that maximize efficiency, the journey required extensive planning and coordination.
Looking back, Nate says he’s most proud of how the affected departments have grown together throughout the process.
And looking ahead, he’s excited by what the warehouse makes possible.
“The growth-minded approach that Border Foods takes empowers us to always look ahead, share ideas and even take risks to improve current operations and allow for future growth,” he says.
To some, this may be a new building, but its purpose is significant: helping Border Foods restaurants get the support they need, when they need it.
And that’s something worth making room for!
