Greenyard Foods is to beef up its northeast US operations with the construction of a new state-of-the-art packing and coldstorage facility. This marks the first expansion of the company in the US market after its merger with Univeg in June 2015.
Located in Swedesboro, New Jersey, the facility is strategically positioned within close proximity of the northeastern ports, a major receiving point for imported fresh produce in the US.
Currently operating as Univeg Logistics America (ULA), the company’s name will change to Greenyard Logistics America upon completion of the new facility.
This expansion substantially increases its overall volume and production capability, quadrupling its current operational square footage and capacity. It also significantly increases the company’s services for customers in areas such as value-add packing, consolidation, controlled atmosphere storage and service providing opportunities.
The complex will be a central matching point for both growers and retailers. Future growth is also anticipated with potential for additional development in the facility plans.
The work is due to begin in July 2016 with plans to open the facility in February 2017. Seald Sweet, a member of the Greenyard Foods group of companies and sister company of ULA, will also relocate its imports production operations and northeast sales offices to the new facility, enabling the sales and production teams to continue operating within the same location.
“As part of our strategic plan, the expansion of our northeast operations not only substantially increases our production capacity but further underscores our commitment to our customers and growers,” said Mayda Sotomayor, president of ULA.
“Expanding our facility has been in our plans for quite some time as our current facility has been a challenge for our continued growth. We couldn’t be more excited to finally move forward with the plans.”
Greenyard Foods CEO Marleen Vaesen said the expansion was in line with the company’s focus to grow in the US market, as part of the fresh division’s growth plans.
“It underlines our commitment to invest in our fresh operations, our people and ultimately our mission to grow consumption of fruits and vegetables for a healthier future,” she stated.
ULA, a member of Greenyard Foods, was established in 2008 in Swedesboro, New Jersey, and is located near the port of Philadelphia fruit terminals, one of the major fresh produce ports of entry in the north-eastern US. The company is a service provider in the Metro Philadelphia area and one of the largest repacking facilities in southern New Jersey, specialising in logistics, coldstorage and distribution of fresh produce.
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