NEW BROCKTON, AL - Foodservice is where trends start and become movements and I can guarantee you that Ben E. Keith, a major national food and beverage distribution company, knows that. The company has plans on the books to invest $100 million to open an advanced foodservice distribution center in New Brockton, Coffee County, Alabama. In addition, Ben E. Keith also plans to expand its manufacturing facilities at Kelley Foods, located in nearby Elba.
“When we acquired Kelley Foods in 2016, we saw it as our gateway to expand in the Southeast to better serve new and existing customers and to uncover new opportunities,” Mike Sweet, President of Ben E. Keith Foods said. “We are deeply committed to the communities of Alabama in which we live, work, and serve, and we look forward to many more years of shared success.”
Ben E. Keith is part of the Markon Cooperative, Inc. which consists of independent, broadline foodservice companies in the U.S. and Canada. According to a statement from Kay Ivey, Alabama’s Governor, the new 425,000-square-foot Coffee County facility will be designed to accommodate future expansions of up to one million square feet; a move which positions the company to expand its distribution activities in the Southeast.
“We welcome the decision by Ben E. Keith, one of the nation’s largest family-owned distribution companies, to significantly expand its presence in Alabama with a new, state-of-the-art facility in Coffee County,” said Ivey. “The investment in the New Brockton facility will not only create good jobs in that community but also provide a springboard for this first-rate company to continue to grow in Alabama.”
Coffee County construction of the facility in New Brockton will begin by December 2019, with a completion date by December 2021. This expansion in the southeast as well as the added capacity will allow the company to better service customers, while staying committed to the local community.
This facility will serve as Ben E. Keith’s southeast regional headquarters. This new venture could potentially create 80 direct jobs spanning the next five years and as a further investment in the community itself, the facility could provide an economic boost to the town of New Brockton.
Congrats to Ben E. Keith on its continued moves to expand its market share across the food and beverage industries! Check back with AndNowUKnow as we keep our finger on the pulse of the industry’s foodservice leaders.
