Area Development
Clark Associates announces it will locate a new distribution center in Madisonville, KY, to help the company's e-commerce business, WEBstaurantStore Inc, better serve its customers in the Midwest and the southern U.S. The $3.3 million investment will create 50 jobs, and ultimately up to 95 jobs over the next few years.

Established in 2004, WEBstaurantStore.com is a leading online distributor of foodservice equipment and supplies which distributes nearly 40,000 items throughout the U.S. and Canada. Its new center will be renovated space located in the 148,000-sq.-ft. facility formerly owned by Autoliv Corporation. Already hiring is expected to begin this summer in anticipation of a quick renovation process.

Clark Associates--WEBstaurantStore's parent company--is a family owned business employing over 400 people. Its multiple divisions and branches in mechanical, sales and manufacturing serve a variety of commercial food service customers nationwide.

The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved Clark Associates for tax incentives worth up to $1 million through the Kentucky Business Investment program. These performance-based incentives allow the firm to retain part of its investment by meeting job and investment targets.

"We are excited to welcome WEBstaurantStore Inc. to our community, and congratulate them on the selection of Hopkins County for their second distribution center," said Hopkins County Judge-Executive Donald Carroll.