Nash-Finch Company (Nasdaq:NAFC), a Minneapolis-based food distributor,
today announced the acquisition of a 400,000 sq. ft. warehouse
distribution facility in Columbus, Georgia for its distribution business
serving military commissaries and exchanges, representing a $20 million
investment in the first three years of operation. The distribution
center will be operated by MDV, which is headquartered in Norfolk,
Virginia, and recognized as one of the premier distributors worldwide
providing service to military commissaries and exchanges.
"Our purpose at MDV is to serve our armed service heroes and their
families, whether at home or abroad, by supplying products needed by the
military to provide one of their most important benefits – the
commissary,” stated Ed Brunot, President and Chief Operating Officer of
MDV. Brunot continued, "This new Columbus distribution center
complements our military distribution centers in the Southeast, allowing
us to better serve the commissaries in that region. We look forward to
joining the Columbus business community and hope to be able to add
members of the Fort Benning community to our MDV family of associates.
We appreciate the efforts of the City, the Development Authority and the
Chamber of Commerce, whose assistance was invaluable in making this
acquisition a reality.”
The new Columbus MDV distribution center is scheduled to begin making
deliveries to commissaries in the late third or fourth quarter of 2010.
"In a state known for its twelve active military installations and
commitment to service personnel and their families, Georgia is proud to
be the new home of this MDV facility that will allow commissaries to
better serve families at Fort Benning and beyond,” said Ken Stewart,
commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. "I join
the Columbus community in celebrating the opening of this new
distribution facility, and look forward to the positive economic impact
for this area.”
A ceremony to celebrate the acquisition will take place on December 17,
2009, at 9:00 a.m. at the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce
located at 1200 6th Avenue in Columbus. Local dignitaries,
including Mayor Jim Wetherington; Dick Ellis, Chairman of the
Development Authority of Columbus, Russ Carreker, Chamber Chairman, and
Mike Gaymon, President and CEO of the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber
of Commerce, will be in attendance. MDV representatives at the event
will be Ed Brunot, MDV President and COO, John Hird, MDV, Vice President
of Distribution and Logistics, Jon Kitts, Vice President of Customer
Service and Business Development, and Bo Stuart, Sr. Distribution
Director - Columbus.
"Nash Finch is an exciting addition to our community,” said Columbus
Mayor Jim Wetherington. "The new jobs being created will provide the
region with new opportunities at a time when job growth has been tight.
Congratulations and thank you for choosing Columbus as the home of your
new facility.”
"Today’s announcement is exciting for our region,” concluded Russ
Carreker, chair of the Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce.
"Today is a good example of what team work can accomplish. In the latest
Manpower survey, Columbus MSA was number one in the country for job
outlook in first quarter 2010. Projects like today will keep us on top
of the chart. Columbus is on a roll. We look forward to seeing this
project succeed.”
Nash-Finch is a Fortune 500 company and one of the leading food
distribution companies in the United States. Nash-Finch's core business,
food distribution, serves independent retailers and military
commissaries in 36 states, the District of Columbia, Europe, Cuba,
Puerto Rico, the Azores and Egypt. The Company also owns and operates a
base of retail stores, primarily supermarkets under the Econofoods®,
Family Thrift Center®, AVANZA®, Family Fresh Market® and Sun Mart® trade
names. Further information is available on the Company's website, www.nashfinch.com.