Dayville, Connecticut, Jan. 8 - United Natural Foods, Inc. (the "Company") today announced plans to lease a new, state-of-the-art distribution center in Moreno Valley, CA. The recently constructed 613,200 square foot facility will be the Company's largest distribution center in its Western Region and is strategically located in Southern California's Inland Empire distribution hub. It will service customers in Southern California, Arizona, Southern Nevada, Southern Utah, and Hawaii. Operations are scheduled to commence during the summer of 2008 and the facility is expected to employ approximately 340 associates within the first year.
The distribution center extends the Company's commitment to enhance efficiencies, lower operating costs in its distribution network and improve productivity through "best in class" warehousing and inventory control systems. The facility will feature 27,900 square feet of refrigerated storage, expandable to 49,700 square feet; 48,100 square feet of frozen storage, expandable to 75,300 square feet; a 32,800 square foot refrigerated receiving/shipping dock; and 22,700 square feet of warehouse mezzanine space.
Michael Funk, United Natural Foods' President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We continue to expand the Company's distribution network to accommodate growing consumer demand and are pleased to make this investment in the Moreno Valley community."
Barry Foster, Moreno Valley's Economic Development Director, commented, "The City of Moreno Valley is pleased to have a highly respected and quality company such as United Natural Foods join our community. Having a strategic location near I-215 in Moreno Valley should serve UNFI well in enhancing service to their expanding customer base."
"Moreno Valley offers an exceptional business environment and we are excited to expand our operations in Southern California," added Randy Lindberg, United Natural Foods' President of the Western Region. "We greatly appreciate the assistance we have received from the City of Moreno Valley, Charles Dunn Company and Overton Moore Partners and look forward to a long- lasting relationship with the community."
United Natural Foods signed a 10-year lease, featuring two additional 5- year options, for the distribution center. The property is managed by Blackrock and was developed by Overton Moore Properties. Bruce Springer of Grubb & Ellis and Gus Andros and John F. X. Murphy of Collins Commercial served as the listing brokers.
United Natural Foods has the largest warehouse capacity of any distributor in the natural products industry and, with the opening of the Moreno Valley facility, will have more than 5.8 million square feet of space at 21 distribution centers nationwide.
About United Natural Foods
United Natural Foods, Inc. carries and distributes more than 40,000 products to more than 17,000 customers nationwide. The Company serves a wide variety of retail formats including conventional supermarket chains, natural product superstores, independent retail operators and the food service channel. United Natural Foods, Inc. was ranked by Forbes in 2005 as one of the "Best Managed Companies in America," ranked by Fortune in 2006 and 2007 as one of its "Most Admired Companies," and ranked by Business Ethics as one of its "100 Best Corporate Citizens for 2006."