Gov. Mike Easley announced today that American Food Resources LLC, a national food wholesale and distribution company, plans to expand its facility in Nashville, investing $3 million and adding 70 jobs during the next three years. The expansion was made possible in part by a $50,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund.
“North Carolina has a tradition of producing and distributing some of the finest food products in the country,” said Easley. “The expansion of American Food Resources helps the state build on our food industry and provides more good-paying jobs for our families.”
Nashville-based American Food Resources serves the retail, food service and industrial market, manufacturing and distributing cheese and dairy products, and offers public storage services for canned and refrigerated food products. The company plans a new line of meatless vegetable products and vegetarian soups and chili. The company is purchasing part of an out-of-state business and moving it to the facility in Nashville, where a new canning line and vegetable cooking will be added.
Salaries for the 70 new positions will vary by job type, but the average annual wage will be $35,523 not including benefits. That is more than the Nash County average annual wage of $31,148.
“Our expansion in Nashville has truly been a joint effort with the N.C. Department of Commerce, Nash County and the Town of Nashville working together with the Carolinas Gateway Partnership,” said Tim Carper, CEO of American Food Resources. “This expansion solidifies a strong operational base for years to come. It also complements our cheese and dairy operation as we look to the future in the natural and organic marketplace.”
The One North Carolina Fund provides financial assistance through local governments to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Through the use of the One North Carolina Fund, more than 35,000 jobs and $6.5 billion in investment have been created since 2001. All of these grants require local matches.
Partners who helped with this project include the N.C. Department of Commerce, Nash County, the Town of Nashville, Carolinas Gateway Partnership and Nash Community College.
For more information about American Food, including employment contact information, go to www.atlanticcheeseco.com.