McLane Company Inc, a leading supply chain services company providing grocery and foodservice supply chain solutions, has opened a new grocery distribution center, McLane Ocala, in the Ocala International Commerce Center at 910 NW 50th Avenue in Ocala FL.
This 400,000-square-foot facility will house nearly 200,000 square feet of perishables, 165,000 square feet of dry grocery, and 35,000 square feet of office and support space. The first shipment arrived recently, and deliveries will begin March 17, 2019.
The new distribution center will create more than 400 new jobs in Marion County. By the end of 2019, McLane Ocala plans to onboard 316 warehouse and support teammates and 120 drivers and transportation support teammates. Driver hiring began in October 2018 to allow drivers to become acclimated with McLane’s customers and the delivery process in general. The recruiting team held a three-day job fair in January at the facility and nearly 600 candidates were interviewed, resulting in 233 job offers.
This location will be McLane’s sixth distribution center in Florida, joining the grocery center in Kissimmee and four foodservice centers in Lakeland, Haines City and two in Orlando. It will service the expanding customer base in north Florida. Construction Management Technology (CMT), the general contractor for the project, oversaw the renovations and development. The Ocala/Marion County Chamber and Economic Partnership (CEP), The County Commission and Ocala City Council also were instrumental in the venture.
“We are thankful for McLane Company’s presence here in our community,” said Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn. “We are excited about their growth, their services and their community involvement.”
Michelle Chesnutt and Jerry Winterhalter are leading the operation with a combined 70 years of experience at McLane. Chesnutt recently transitioned from division president at McLane Dothan in Cottonwood AL, while Winterhalter was vice president of distribution at McLane Sunwest in Goodyear AZ.
“We are thrilled to open our new facility in Ocala where the business community is welcoming and open to growth,” said Michelle Chesnutt, division president of McLane Ocala. “The values and work ethic of the prospective workforce is an ideal fit with McLane’s culture. McLane Ocala continues our company’s core initiative to drive customer results.”
See www.mclaneco.com for further details.
