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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

United Natural Foods, Inc. Invests $55 Million In Orange County, New York Distribution Facility

03/29/2013
United Natural Foods, Inc., a distributor of natural, organic and specialty foods, will invest more than $55 million to build New State-of-the-Art Facility, in Montgomery, New York, create 360 New Jobs in Orange County. This is UNFI’s first distribution center in New York State. The new state-of-the-art facility is expected to be up and running by fall of 2014.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo said the firm will construct a new state-of-the-art, 525,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution facility in the Town of Montgomery. “This is great news for New York and great news for Orange County,” Cuomo said. “This administration has had a laser-like focus on opening New York’s doors to business and creating an environment where companies, such as United Natural Foods, Inc., can grow and invest. 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 in the Hudson Valley, the new facility will allow UNFI to improve its distribution efficiencies and service to the growing metro New York, Long Island and New York markets, while alleviating capacity issues in the company’s existing northeast facilities. The Montgomery facility will allow UNFI to enhance efficiencies, improve productivity through “best in class” warehousing and inventory control systems, lower operating costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Its distribution facility will be the second largest in the UNFI network. It is expected to open with 223 associates; increasing up to 331 associates within the first two years based on current plans for increased capacity to meet demand, the Governor’s Office said. The new distribution facility will feature CO2 refrigeration systems, robust refrigerated cooler and freezer capacity, and increased cold chain integrity.

In order to encourage investment of more than $55 million and to create new jobs, 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.

“Thanks to Governor Cuomo’s leadership, businesses aren’t just giving New York State a second look; they are choosing the state as the place to expand and grow jobs,” said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Kenneth Adams.

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.”

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