Salt Lake City-based foodservice distributor Nicholas & Co Inc is moving to establish a second facility in a growing area of its regional market.
Nicholas commits to purchase 37 acres of land in North Las Vegas, Nevada and build a 215,000 sqft. (20,000 sqm) state-of-the-art food distribution facility. The projected Nicholas investment is USD36 million. Details about the site's materials handling equipment are pending.
A board for the Nevada governor's office of economic development has approved tax incentives for Nicholas of about USD4.8 million. The proposed facility would create 95 full-time jobs at an average hourly wage of USD26.52.
In addition, the board authorised funding of up to USD625,000 under the state's catalyst fund for companies seeking to open operations in Nevada.
"We have been working with them for two years to set up a second large distribution centre," says Chris Zunis, vice president of the non-profit Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance, previously known as the Nevada Development Authority.
Nicholas delivers more than 10,000 products and a range of services throughout six states in the Intermountain West region of the US.
"We have assembled resources that include . . . state-of-the-art facilities (along with) a team of foodservice experts, cutting-edge technology, exemplary food safety practices and refined efficiencies," says Peter Mouskondis, president and chief executive officer. His grandfather founded the business in 1939.
Mouskondis, 45, began his career at the company at 12 years of age and became president in 2003. He is a member of the Utah governor's office of economic development and the Utah sports commission.
The current Nicholas facility in Salt Lake City occupies 375,758 sqft. (34,908 sqm), utilises 26 refrigerated and 17 dry dock doors and features eight temperature zones plus a fruit ripening room. A separate room with a special air-filtration system removes gases that are given off during charging of batteries for the firm's Crown pallet jacks.
Upgrades in the Salt Lake City facility have included inventory tracking systems, temperature monitoring via handheld mobile computers, cleaner energy sourcing and improved product storage.
The Nicholas service area includes Utah, Nevada, northern Arizona, western Wyoming, southern Idaho and south-western Montana.