United Natural Foods Inc., a Providence, R.I..-based distributor of natural, organic and specialty foods, has committed to build a new 525,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution facility in the town of Montgomery in Orange County, investing more than $55 million and creating more than 360 new jobs.
This is UNFI”™s first distribution center in New York. Construction is slated for completion fall 2014. The company owns seven major food companies in the U.S. and Canada ”“ including UNFI Canada and Albert”™s Organics ”“ and maintains 13 distribution centers across both countries.
“This is great news for New York and great news for Orange County,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement. He called his administration”™s focus on attracting business “laser-like” and added, “Today”™s announcement is proof-positive that this message has been received.”
“UNFI is pleased to partner with New York state and the Town of Montgomery to expand our operations here in the Northeast,” said Sean Griffin, UNFI”™s group president. “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. We look forward to growing together with this great community.”
Located near I-84, the new facility should allow UNFI to improve its distribution efficiencies and service to the metro New York and Long Island markets, “while alleviating capacity issues in the company”™s existing northeast facilities” in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.
Maureen Halahan, president and CEO of the Orange County Partnership, said, “This exciting announcement is a credit to UNFI and the work of the elected officials, permitting bodies and developers of Orange County. The county”™s team worked quickly and efficiently to conduct its due-diligence and facilitate a great opportunity for all parties involved.”
Laurence Gottleib, president & CEO, Hudson Valley Economic Development Corp., said, “This latest win for Orange County is a direct reflection of the county’s dynamic leadership working as a team with local, regional and state economic developers to attract new companies and jobs to the region. HVEDC is proud to be a partner in this fantastic win for Orange County, and we look forward to continuing this win streak well into the future.”
Empire State Development, the state”™s economic development agency, is providing the company with $3.6 million in tax credits through the Excelsior Jobs Program.
