Area Development
The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc., a specialty food service distributor, agreed to a long-term, 35-year, lease of approximately 234,000 square feet of space at its Hunts Point facility, where it will create 100 jobs.

Dairyland USA Corporation, a subsidiary of The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc., already leases approximately 55,000 square feet of space at Hunts Point. Through this new lease, Dairyland USA Corporation will remain in the South Bronx, retaining approximately 313 jobs and adding an additional 100 jobs over the next five years, the New York City Economic Development Corporation said.

The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. plans to invest between $15 million and $20 million in the project, first renovating an existing approximately 176,000-square-foot building on the site, and also transforming a 58,000-square-foot rail shed into cold storage and office space.

Dairyland USA Corporation currently operates and employs approximately 313 people at two separate facilities. Approximately 153 employees are located at the 200-240 Food Center Drive site, with another 160 located at 1300 Viele Avenue in the Bronx. Dairyland will consolidate all of its existing operations at 200-240 Food Center Drive and hire an additional 100 employees over the next five years.

"Chefs' Warehouse's long-term commitment to Hunts Point is another vote of confidence in the South Bronx, helping to cement its status as a world-class food distribution hub," said New York City Economic Development Corporation President Seth W. Pinsky. "With their plans to expand their operations, Chefs' Warehouse will soon activate previously unused space and create one hundred new jobs, which will lead to increased economic activity and vibrancy in Hunts Point and across the entire borough."

"We appreciate the longstanding support of the great city of New York and are pleased to be expanding our presence to continue providing some of the greatest chefs in the world with the finest ingredients from around the globe," said Chris Pappas, chairman and chief executive officer of The Chefs' Warehouse, Inc. "The new facility will provide us with more capacity to serve our current customers and room to grow as we continue to expand our client base and culinary offerings."

"I am excited about Chefs' Warehouse's commitment to continued growth in the Bronx. Their plan to remain in Hunts Point and expand their operations validates that the Bronx is open for business," said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

According to the Empire State Development, the project did not receive any state incentive funds.