Expansion will “enable US Foods to enhance our service offerings for the restaurants and other foodservice establishments we serve across the Middle Tennessee region”
US Foods Holding Corp. (US Foods), one of America’s leading food service distributors, broke ground today on its new 90,000 square-foot expansion on the 160,000 square foot IWC facility at 535 Dry Valley Road in Cookeville.
The company says the expansion will “enable US Foods to enhance our service offerings for the restaurants and other foodservice establishments we serve across the Middle Tennessee region,” according to the company. The building was originally built in 2000, and when the expansion is complete in 2025 it will cover 250,000 square feet.
The food service distribution center employs over 200 people and houses and transports food and supplies to independent restaurants and other food service providers across the Middle Tennessee region. Family-owned for two generations, IWC Food Service has more than $200 million in annual revenue and serves more than 2,700 independent restaurants, which make up more than half of its business, as well as other customers.
IWC will continue to operate in the facility and will also continue service at the local Cookeville Cash-and-Carry store.
“We are all very excited about the continued investment in the facility, our associates and our customers,” said U.S Foods.
Expansion – US Foods breaks ground on IWC expansion.
IWC says the acquisition is exciting and will enable enhanced service offerings while further investing in helping more restaurants across the Middle Tennessee region succeed.
“It’s a very exciting day for US Foods associates and the restaurants and other food service establishments US Foods serve across the Middle Tennessee region from right here in Cookeville,” according to US Foods. “This facility also supports the many experts who help our customers succeed such as our Restaurant Operation Consultants and Food Fanatic Chefs who help our customers enhance their operations.”
The transaction is part of the company’s tuck-in acquisition strategy that allows US Foods to further expand its reach into the central Tennessee region, where the company does not currently have a distribution center.
“We are excited to welcome the dedicated IWC Food Service associates to US Foods as we continue to strategically grow the U.S. Foods footprint and help new and existing customers throughout the region Make It,” said Dave Flitman, CEO of US Foods. “With a heritage of putting innovation, quality and integrity at the forefront of their commitment to their customers, IWC Food Service has maintained a superior reputation throughout the central Tennessee region, and we look forward to investing in the continued growth of the business.”
How much is all this going to cost US Foods?
“We don’t disclose financials, but what I can say is that we are excited to continue to invest in this facility, the amazing people who support it, and the valued customers who benefit from our operations each day,” said the company.
The deal closed in April 2024.
“This is an exciting day for IWC Food Service, and we look forward to combining the strengths of our two companies at close to continue bringing our valued customers the service, solutions and tools they need to help them thrive and succeed,” said Bob Mackie, president of IWC Food Service. “We are honored to be joining US Foods and welcome their continued investment in IWC Food Service and the dedicated and inspired associates who successfully support our business each day. Our father, Jimmy W. Mackie, founder and CEO emeritus, started this company more than 60 years ago with the understanding that operating as a company comprised of people you can depend on would drive our continued success, and he is as proud as we are to reach this milestone.”
US Foods says this is just the beginning of its expansion.
“We will continue to selectively pursue acquisitions that we feel are a very good fit for US Foods, including specialty and broadline distributors with high concentrations of independent restaurant business,” according to the company.
This is an ongoing story. Check back for further developments.
Photo courtesy of US Foods.
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