$4.5 million investment expected to create 10 new jobs
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Southeast Frozen Foods, a food products distributor and cold storage service provider, today announced that it will expand its existing operations in Calhoun County - the company’s second expansion in the last five years. The $4.5 million investment is expected to generate 10 additional new jobs.
“We are pleased to be able to increase capacity at our operations in Calhoun County to keep pace with our growing customer base. We have operated in South Carolina for over 30 years and the state has long provided us with an excellent business environment and skilled workforce. We look forward to continuing to grow and meet our customers’ needs. We appreciate all the support we’ve received from state and local officials,” said Rich Bauer, president and CEO of Southeast Frozen Foods.
Southeast Frozen Foods offers supply chain solutions to retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers in the food industry. The company will add new freezer capacity to its Gaston facility, located at 220 Frontage Road. The new equipment will include state-of-the-art blast freezing technology that will increase productivity and be more energy efficient.
“We work hard to bring new companies to our state, but it’s always exciting to see one of South Carolina’s existing grow. We celebrate Southeast Frozen Foods’ decision to invest $4.5 million and create new jobs in Gaston. By keeping taxes and regulatory costs low, we can continue to strengthen our state’s business-friendly climate,” said Gov. Nikki Haley.
Since January 2011, South Carolina has recruited more than $322 million in capital investment and more than 2,800 jobs in the distribution and logistics sector. Additionally, in the agribusiness sector, more than $292 million in capital investment and more than 1,400 jobs have been recruited during the same time period.
“South Carolina continues to provide the location and infrastructure companies need to get products to customers. Today’s expansion announcement by Southeast Frozen Foods serves as another indication of that fact. Every one of these jobs will have an impact in Calhoun County,” said Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt.
Along with supplying customers throughout the Southeast, the company also exports about 10 percent of its products as well. Southeast Frozen Foods expects the expansion to be completed in 2013.
“The expansion of Southeast Frozen Foods speaks to the increasing potential of agribusiness in South Carolina. Not only will this expansion create new jobs on-site, but it also has the potential to open the door to more opportunities for local food producers,” said South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers.
In 2007, Southeast Frozen Foods expanded this facility by 32,000 square feet, adding 1.2 million cubic feet of space, four more dock doors and 3,500 more pallet positions. The company also added 30 new jobs.
“We appreciate Southeast Frozen Foods’ decision to expand in Calhoun County. Today’s announcement signifies two things to us: that we’re pleased with the company and the progress that it has made as a Calhoun County enterprise, and that the company is satisfied with its location in Calhoun County. We are honored that Southeast Frozen Foods is sinking its business roots deeper and deeper into the sandy soil of Calhoun County,” said Calhoun County Economic Development Council Chairman Pat Black.
“Southeast Frozen Foods understands the value of having a distribution center in the Central SC Region with close proximity to four major interstates and a world-class workforce. The greatest testament of a region-state business vitality is when a company continues to reinvest in the same location. Congratulations to Calhoun County and we greatly appreciate the vote of confidence by the Southeast Frozen Foods management team,” said Central SC Alliance Chairman Jim Apple.
Anyone interested in employment opportunities with Southeast Frozen Foods should visit the company’s careers page at http://74.9.203.74/employment/.
Southeast Frozen Foods, a part of Southeast Food Distribution, provides outsource solutions for retailer grocers and distributors in the supply chain areas of procurement, transportation, inventory management and distribution. The categories supported by the company are frozen food, ice cream, frozen bakery/deli, frozen meat and refrigerated. Southeast Food Distribution supplies independent and regional supermarket chains in twenty two states and the District of Columbia, and exports to the Caribbean, Central and South America. For more information, please visit www.seff.com.