Scariano Wholesale Foods plans a $10 million expansion of the wholesale food distribution facility near Hammond, Louisiana.

Founded in 1930, Scariano Wholesale is celebrating 90 years of serving customers along the Gulf Coast, delivering fresh products at competitive prices. The family owned company specializes in the delivery of protein products, including pork, beef, poultry, seafood and more. The company has more than 1,200 customers across the Gulf Coast, with a territory spanning from eastern Texas to the Florida Panhandle.

According to Louisiana Economic Development the project will improve transportation, access and logistics at the site while creating 20 new direct jobs. LED estimates the expansion will result in an additional 27 new indirect jobs, for a total of 47 new jobs in Tangipahoa Parish and surrounding areas.

“This project and past projects have allowed our company to expand our workforce and continue our reliable service to our customers,” Scariano Wholesale Foods CEO Jay Scariano said. “We are extremely grateful to our customers, employees and vendors for their continued faith in the Scariano business model. Our continued partnership with the State of Louisiana and Tangipahoa Parish have been critical to our success and the success of our employees. We look forward to many years of continued success with our state and parish partners.”

Scariano Wholesale Foods will retain 81 existing jobs with the expansion, which will include installation of a new fueling station for its distribution fleet. The project also will provide a cold-storage addition; expansion of the loading dock and warehouse; improved road access; and new parking for employee vehicles and distribution trucks.

LED began working with Scariano Wholesale Foods on a potential expansion project in January 2019. To facilitate the expansion, the State of Louisiana offered the company a performance-based $250,000 Economic Development Award Program incentive to support the road infrastructure improvements.

“A welcoming business climate means state, parish and local leaders are helping companies improve their business performance and bring new career opportunities to our people,” Governor John Bel Edwards said. “This is precisely what we are seeing with Scariano Wholesale Foods. Louisiana is proud to support the company’s growth, and we congratulate Jay and his entire team on this exciting new phase in the company’s history.”

“We are excited about Scariano’s expansion in Tangipahoa Parish,” said Tangipahoa Parish President Robby Miller. “They are an exceptional company and their dedication to providing first-class products and service to their customers is the reason for this expansion. We are very appreciative of LED and look forward to much success for Scariano, Tangipahoa and Louisiana.”

“We have been pleased to work with Scariano Wholesale Foods on their newest expansion project,” said Executive Director Ginger Cangelosi of the Tangipahoa Economic Development Foundation. “This company has been in Tangipahoa for many years and has continued to invest in the parish and our people by improving their facility and creating jobs for our local community. I look forward to continuing our partnership with them and am excited to see them grow and succeed.”