United Natural Foods Leases 590,000 SF

LANCASTER, TX-United Natural Foods Inc. has taken 100% of recently completed ProLogis Park 20/35′s building two. The natural distributor of specialty and organic foods has taken the entire 589,870-square-foot distribution building through a long-term lease.

A press release describing the transaction says operations will commence during fall, 2010, and the company is expected to employ approximately 130 at the facility. “Focused on extending our market share and enhancing growth opportunities, this new distribution center will augment our growing presence in the Southwestern United States,” commented Steve Spinner, United Natural Foods’ president and CEO in the release. “Additionally, by transferring distribution routes from our Denver facility to Lancaster, we will be reducing greenhouse gas and CO2 emissions, improving service levels to customers in this region and enhancing overall operating efficiencies.”

The release also says that United Natural Foods plans to apply for LEED certification upon completion of its buildout. A call for comment to United Natural Foods’ headquarters in Providence, RI was not returned.

A spokeswoman for Denver-based ProLogis, which is developing and leasing ProLogis Park 20/35 tells GlobeSt.com that the development so far consists of two buildings totaling 1.2 million square feet. Space still remains in the 656,105-square-foot building one. The master-planned park is at the intersections if Interstate 35 and Interstate 20 and upon build-out, will hold 3.3 million square feet of space.

The spokeswoman tells GlobeSt.com that buildings one and two were the first to go up on the site, and both were constructed spec. Though there is room for future development, there are no immediate development plans, the spokeswoman adds.