Meijer invests $27 million in DC expansion

LANSING, Mich. Retail supercenter chain Meijer will begin a major expansion of the company's distribution center in Newport, Mich. Meijer unveiled the project at a news conference held to announce the Michigan Economic Growth Authority (MEGA) board's approval of a state tax credit associated with the project.

"I'm thrilled that, as Meijer moves into its 75th year of doing business, we are able to continue our long-standing pattern of growth and investment in the State of Michigan," said Mark Murray, president of the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer. "Our Newport facility is a key part of our supply chain, and the expansion of this distribution center is critical to Meijer as we are poised for more growth in the Midwest and Michigan."

Meijer will invest $27 million into the Newport distribution center expansion. The project will create 366 total jobs: 190 directly by Meijer and up to 176 indirect jobs generated by economic activity created by the project.

The project will add nearly one-quarter million square feet to the distribution center, increasing the facility's size to nearly 1.2 million square feet. The Newport distribution center ships meat, produce, dry grocery products and frozen foods to more than 45 Meijer stores on a daily basis. Newport is one of four Meijer distribution facilities located in the Midwest. Meijer also has distribution complexes located in Grand Rapids, Mich., Lansing, Mich., Tipp City, Ohio and Middlebury, Ind.