Food Services Wholesaler Announces Major Business Expansion in North Carolina

Business expansion in North Carolina of the food services industry shows continued vitality with the recent announcement of a $50-million expansion of Merchant Distributors, Inc's Hickory, NC headquarters. According to the Caldwell County Economic Development Commission, their attractive package of tax incentives and new road construction sealed the deal.

Lenoir, NC, January 08, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Merchant Distributors, Inc. (MDI) announces a 260,000-sq.-ft. expansion at its Hickory, NC headquarters that will add 200 new jobs over the next five years. The second expansion since 1996, the growth of MDI bodes well for the future of the food services industry in western North Carolina.

MDI is a privately-owned wholesale grocery store distributor that supplies over 600 retail food stores with food and non-food items throughout the Southeast and Ohio.

Although MDI also considered other sites for expansion, Caldwell County and the City of Hickory developed a strong incentive package, including a 12-year Economic Development Grant and a new road to relieve the area's traffic congestion. Connecting Grace Chapel Road with Highway 321 North the commitment to build the new road was considered a key reason why MDI chose its Hickory site as the location for its business expansion in North Carolina.

"We are very happy about MDI's continued expansion and commitment to our community,” states Alan Wood, senior development manager of Caldwell County Economic Development Commission. Along with the opening of Vantage Foods' Meat Processing Center in Lenoir, NC in 2007, these outstanding companies signal a tremendous potential for continued growth of the food services industry in Western North Carolina.

A case-ready fresh meat processor, Vantage Foods employs 180 locally trained and recruited workers at its Lenoir facility.

To contact Caldwell County Economic Development Commission, view the website at http://www.caldwelledc.org or call 828-728-0768.

About Caldwell County Economic Development Commission:
Caldwell County Economic Development Commission facilitates the marketing of Caldwell County to encourage job creation, retention, and investment. The commission's goal is to establish the county as a desirable destination for business, industry, retirement, and tourism.

Contact:
Alan Wood, Senior Development Manager
Caldwell County Economic Development Commission
1909 Hickory Blvd.
P.O. Box 2888
Lenoir, NC 28645
828-728-0768

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Contact
Caldwell County Economic Develoment Commission
Alan Wood
828-728-0768
http://www.caldwelledc.org
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