STATESVILLE, N.C. (December 20, 2011)—Foodservice distributor Pate Dawson Company announced today with North Carolina officials the construction of a new distribution center that when operational will eventually employ 49 workers.
In an announcement with the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Pate Dawson said it will invest $8.5 million in the new facility to serve restaurant customers throughout western North Carolina and far beyond.
“This new distribution facility will allow us to be closer to serve many of our foodservice customers and to enhance efficiency with all of our shipping locations,” said Pate Dawson President David Stansfield. “We also have the capacity to expand in the future.”
The distribution facility will be constructed in an existing 63,000-square-foot building at Statesville Business Park and another 40,000 square feet of cooler and frozen space will be added in coming months. Pate Dawson said the company hopes to begin occupancy of the facility next summer.
Salaries will vary by job function but the average annual wage for the new jobs will be $47, 531 plus benefits. The Iredell County average annual wage is $36,348, according to the Commerce Department.
“Creating jobs is my top priority and Pate Dawson’s choice to locate this facility in Iredell County is a testament to our excellent workforce and strong business climate,” said North Carolina Gov. Beverly Perdue in an announcement. “It is great news when home-grown companies decide to expand their operations right here in North Carolina.”
The project was made possible in part by a $150,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund, the Commerce Department said.
“We’re excited about opening a new distribution center in Statesville,” said Pate Dawson Chief Executive Officer Malcolm “Mac” Sullivan, who participated in making the announcement today with Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco. “The community and the people we have meet feel like home. Our view of business and relationships is generational, so we look forward to being part of this community and growing here for years to come.”
Goldsboro-based Pate Dawson is a fifth-generation, family-owned company with a126-year history in North Carolina. In North Carolina, the company currently employs some 390 workers at its headquarters and at distribution facilities in Goldsboro and Greensboro. The company also operates a USDA-inspected facility in Greensboro which offers fresh-cut meats and seafood, processed to restaurant customer specifications, under the Southern Foods name. The company also has distribution facilities in Atlanta and serves more than 2,000 restaurant operators in nine Southeastern states.
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