United Natural Foods (UNFI) plans to lease a new 1.3 million-sq.-ft. distribution center in Manchester, Pennsylvania.
The “next-generation” grocery distribution warehouse will allow UNFI to serve its growing customer base in the region, the company said. The temperature-controlled facility currently is under construction and expected to be finished over the next 15 months.
“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’s chief operating officer, said in a news release. “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 will be additive to the company’s portfolio of distribution centers in Pennsylvania and, once complete, will provide UNFI with increased network capacity, improved capability to more efficiently deliver its comprehensive product and services offering, and support continued customer growth in the mid-Atlantic region. The addition of the Manchester distribution center also is an important investment in UNFI associates, as the facility will offer an enhanced overall experience highlighted by a lifestyle center aimed at improving retention and overall employee engagement through a more modern, associate-friendly workplace.
