MONTGOMERY, NY-United Natural Foods Inc., the largest publicly traded US wholesale distributor of organic foods and natural products, will build a 525,000-square-foot distribution center in this Orange County community 60 miles northwest of New York City. The $55-million warehouse will be be Providence, RI-based UNFI's first DC in New York State and its first in the New York City metro area, although it operates two New England facilities, which according to a release are facing “capacity issues.”
“We feel Montgomery is the optimal location for us to better service our customers and increase our operational efficiencies while reducing our costs and emissions,” Sean Griffin, UNFI's group president, says in a release. “We look forward to growing together with this great community.”
Pending approval by the Town of Montgomery Planning Board, groundbreaking could occur as early as this summer, published reports say. UNFI is aiming for LEED Gold certification on the facility, which will be its second largest. It's planing to add more DCs around the US in the next few years, according to regulatory filings.
The Orange County facility will be located near Intersate 84 in the Hudson Valley; a fall 2014 opening is projected. When it opens, it will employ 223 associates, a number that's expected to increase to 331 within the first two years based on current plans for increased capacity to meet demand. Ultimately, it will employ more than 360, the release states.
The company had considered building the new DC in Pennsylvania, where it already operates a distribution facility in York, acording to published reports. To help sway UNFI toward its present location, the Empire State Development Corp. is providing the company with $3.6 million in tax credits through the Excelsior Jobs Program.
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