Willow Run Foods In The News

Willow Run plans $13 million expansion

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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

Willow Run gets two multimillion dollar contracts

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

KIRKWOOD -- Willow Run Foods said it has received two significant contracts that will lead to about 30 new jobs at the Kirkwood-based food systems distributor.

The company has signed a four-year extension with ARCOP to continue distribution for nearly 400 Arby's throughout the Northeast, including the Binghamton area. Revenues from the contract are estimated to be about $380 million, Willow Run President and Chief Executive Officer Terry Wood said. Willow Run has serviced ARCOP for 10 years.

Willow Run also has signed a five-year agreement valued at about $300 million to service existing Sonic drive-ins throughout the Northeast starting in February. Some locations in the Binghamton-area could eventually be included in that Sonic mix.

"It does two things for us," Wood said. "One, it validates our service and our company in that we were able to extend an ongoing contract. And it's very exciting for us to be considered and chosen for new business, especially for something like Sonic, which is growing so dramatically."

Willow Run's business growth will result in the immediate hiring of about 30 drivers, warehouse personnel and supervisors, Wood said. Willow Run, an employee-owned company, has about 400 employee owners.

The company's warehouse workers are paid $10-$13 an hour, Wood said. Drivers, on average, receive $45,000-$50,000 a year, he said. Supervisors are paid about $25,000-$35,000 a year depending on the position and level of experience.

Oklahoma City-based Sonic does not have a restaurant in New York state, according to its Web site. But Wood said the chain has rapid expansion plans for the Northeast, including possibly opening four locations in the Binghamton area.

A Sonic representative did not return a call for comment.

Marc Newman, managing member of Vestal-based Newman Development Group, said his business has shown Sonic representatives a few area sites for possible restaurants. Sonic seems committed to opening at least a few area drive-ins, but has not confirmed with NDG any specific sites, Newman said.

Willow Promotes Employees

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Willow Run Foods Inc. announced the promotions of two of its valued employees. James Donovan and Leonard Basso have been promoted to vice president. Donovan has served as chief financial officer since June 2004. Basso has served as transportation manager since October 2000.

Willow Run wins Popeye's contract

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 08:00:00 GMT

Kirkwood

Willow Run Foods of Kirkwood signed a five-year, $310 million deal with Supply Management Services of Atlanta to supply goods to nearly 300 Popeye's restaurants across the Northeast. The new agreement extends an existing relationship with the chain that began more than 17 years ago, said Willow Run representatives. The new contract adds 167 restaurants to the 130 the food distributor already serves. Combined with a deal Willow Run signed last year with Bob Evan's Restaurants, Willow Run expects to book about $600 million in sales from the company's Kirkwood warehouse. As a result of the new agreement, Willow Run, an employee-owned company, will be adding 20 more truck drivers to its staff along with an undetermined number of warehouse and yard personnel.

Willow Run contract could mean 35 jobs

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 08:00:00 GMT

$155M deal ties distributor to Bob Evans

By Jeff Platsky
Press & Sun-Bulletin

A five-year, $155 million contract with Bob Evans Farms Inc. will result in the addition of up to 35 jobs at Willow Run Foods in Kirkwood.

Terry Wood, Willow Run's chief executive, announced the contract on Thursday, saying the food distributor will serve 81 of the chain's restaurants in the Northeast corridor from Maine to Virginia.

"It's a nice piece of business," Wood said.

Wood said the new contract will create 20 to 25 new tractor-trailer driver jobs and 10 new office and warehouse jobs. Willow Run employs about 400 people at its Kirkwood distribution center.

Willow Run also has food distribution contracts with Wendy's, Arby's, Boston Market, Quizno's and Popeyes. The Bob Evans contract will push annual sales above the $500 million mark at Willow Run, Wood said.

Bob Evans Farms owns and operates 589 Bob Evans Restaurants in 18 states. Bob Evans Restaurants are primarily located in the Midwest, mid-Atlantic Southeast regions of the United States, and many of those are located in close proximity to the interstate highway system. The publicly held company has headquarters in Columbus, Ohio.

High-Volume Distribution For The Retail Food Industry

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 08:00:00 GMT

Ryder Edge Magazine focuses on Willow Run Foods in it's March 2005 issue.