Sysco Corp. (Houston) plans to build a distribution center in Selma (North Carolina) creating 600 jobs over the next seven years and investing $37 million in the area. It will serve restaurants, hospitals, schools, colleges, retirement homes, hotels and other foodservice operations in north central North Carolina and southern Virginia. The complex will include approximately 395,000-square-feet of refrigerated, frozen and dry warehouse space, and administrative offices. Foodservice customers in the area currently are being served principally by a Sysco operating company in Charlotte (N.C.).
Sysco used what it calls the 'fold-out' concept to select the new site. Richard J. Schnieders, Sysco's chairman and chief executive officer, explains, "The 'fold-out' concept of building new facilities in an area with an established sales base that has been served by a distant Sysco company has been integral to the success of Sysco's internal growth strategies and enabled us to provide more localized service to customers in those areas. The vibrant growth we have seen in foodservice in the Raleigh market area will support another facility, allowing us to expand our distribution capabilities and favorably impact the communities in that region."
Jack D. Carlson, Sysco 's vice president, real estate and construction, adds, "This site was chosen because of the available outstanding workforce, the lifestyle and amenities afforded by the community and the willingness of the city, county and state officials to assist in securing economic development incentives and other assistance."
Sysco is one of the larger foodservice, marketing and distribution organizations in North America, generating sales last year of $29.5 billion. The company's 155 distribution locations in the U.S. and Canada provide food and related products and services to about 400,000 customers. It has more than 46,000 employees in North America.