US Foods completes expansion of super-sized Louisiana distribution center

Distributor US Foods Holding Corp. on Monday said it has completed the expansion of its distribution center in Marrero, Louisiana, to expand its reach across that state and into Mississippi.

The 205,000-square-foot facility, about 15 minutes from New Orleans, nearly triples the size of the previous one and houses an assortment of broadline items, the Rosemont, Illinois-based company said, in addition to a full-service demonstration kitchen and training center. It boosts the broadliner’s presence in New Orleans and creates more distribution points across the South, the company said.

Construction on the Marrero distribution center began in 2019 after US Foods acquired meat wholesaler F. Christiana.

“This is an important milestone for our growing Louisiana team as we continue to partner with local foodservice operators who support our vibrant and thriving New Orleans community,” US Foods Market VP Dan Hildreth said in a statement.

The company was designed to meet Silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification sustainability requirements, with upgrades such as energy-efficient refrigeration systems, energy-saving LED lighting, optimized HVAC systems and water-efficient landscaping, the company said.

US Foods works with roughly 250,000 restaurants and foodservice operators, with more than 70 broadline locations and more than 80 cash-and-carry Chef’Store warehouse retail locations.

The Marrero facility also includes an interactive technology center where US Foods customers can learn about the company’s web-based business solutions.

In July, US Foods announced a bicoastal expansion of its Chef’Store warehouse retail concept, with stores planned in California, North Carolina and Montana. The company currently operates the markets, which are open to restaurant operators as well as the general public across 13 states.