KIRKWOOD -- Willow Run Foods said it wants to build a $13 million freezer and cooler storage facility near its current building on Route 11.
The plan still needs various town approvals. The company will meet with the Kirkwood zoning board Monday to discuss the proposal, Willow Run President and Chief Executive Officer Terry Wood said.
If everything goes through as planned, Willow Run could break ground on the 107,000-square-foot facility this fall for a July opening, Wood said. The building would be designed with a 30,000-square-foot addition in mind for potential, future expansion.
About 25 to 50 employees -- mostly truck drivers and warehouse personnel -- would be needed to staff the facility and would be hired in the months preceding the opening, Wood said. The employee-owned company has about 400 employee owners.
Most of the company's warehouse employees receive about $15 an hour, Wood said. Willow Run truck drivers receive an average of $50,000 a year.
About a year ago, Willow Run bought about 20 acres on land adjoining its current building for possible, future expansion, Wood said. The new facility would be built on this land.
State Sen. Thomas W. Libous, R-Binghamton, has committed $800,000 in grant funding to be used to install a railway site for the company to receive products by rail, Wood said. The rail site would be built next spring.
Willow Run is a casual dining and fast food systems distributor with annual sales of $502 million, according to its Web site. Customers include Wendy's, Boston Market, Arby's, Quiznos, Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits and Sonic.
The new facility would serve existing customers and attract new customers who store their frozen/cooler products outside the region, Wood said.
The company is exploring financing options for the project, including possibly working with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority on incentives to implement energy-saving initiatives, he said.
Source: pressconnects.com
By My-Ly Nguyen
Business Editor