October 16, 2000

Hormel Foods to Build Distribution Facility in Dayton, Ohio

by Bryan Salvage

Austin, Minn.-based Hormel Foods Corp. will open a food distribution facility in Dayton, Ohio's Northwest Industrial Park next year. Hormel Foods will invest $15 million in the facility, machinery and equipment, and will maintain an inventory estimated at $25 million.

The 140,000-square-foot distribution facility will employ 125 full-time employees and will serve as a distribution center for a variety of products manufactured at Hormel Foods plants throughout the United States, according to the company.

Products will be shipped from this distribution center to customers in the eastern one-half of the U.S. Refrigerated and frozen foods handled by this facility will include Cure 81 ham, Always Tender fresh pork and Hormel fully cooked entrees, Little Sizzlers pork sausage and various Hormel bacon and dry sausage items.

"This new facility will enable us to meet growing consumer demands for our refrigerated and frozen consumer-branded products through improved customer service," said V. Allan Krejci, vice president of public relations for Hormel Foods.

The project has been nurtured by the cooperative efforts of the city of Dayton; the state of Ohio; the Dayton Regional Development Alliance; and the Montgomery County Economic Development and Government Equity (ED/GE) Program.

Pending final approval by the authorized agencies, the Ohio Department of Development will assist the expansion by providing $400,000 for roadway infrastructure, $200,000 for water and sewer improvements, and $62,500 for job training for employees. State assistance is contingent upon final approval from the Ohio Job Creation Tax Credit Authority and/or the State Controlling Board. The city of Dayton and the Montgomery County ED/GE program have approved $300,000 each for roadway and infrastructure improvements.

"We are very excited about becoming part of the Dayton community," Krejci said. "We looked at many possible sites to locate our new distribution facility and found that Dayton offered the best package. It has been reassuring to see how the City of Dayton, the Miami Valley region and the State of Ohio worked together to meet our needs and convince us that Dayton is where we want to be.

"A groundbreaking event for the facility will be scheduled sometime this month.

This article reprinted with permission from Meat Marketing and Technology Magazine.

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