Rhode Island-based United Natural Foods (UNFI), a grocery wholesaler, plans to open a 1.3 million-square-foot leased distribution center in Manchester.
The temperature-controlled facility will provide the company with increased network capacity and improved capability to more efficiently deliver products and services. It will support customer growth in the mid-Atlantic region.
The facility also will include a lifestyle center designed to improve employee retention and engagement by creating a modern, associate-friendly workplace.
“Our York facility, located less than 15 minutes away, has felt the impact of both new and existing customer growth we’ve experienced in this region over the last 12-18 months,” Erin Horvath, UNFI chief operating officer, said. “Leasing this facility allows us to best utilize our capital and manage Company resources, all while delivering on our transformation program, to enhance our distribution network by enabling our multi-echelon re-distribution strategy to effectively support our customer growth. Similar to several other UNFI facilities, this new distribution center will implement technology and automation solutions designed to enable greater network capacity, scalability, and profitability.”
The facility has begun construction and is expected to be completed in the next 15 months.
UNFI delivers products to more than 30,000 locations in North America, including independent retailers.