Ahold Delhaize Opens New East Coast Facility
NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI - Ahold Delhaize USA is making waves in the foodservice sector with an all-new fresh processing facility and culinary innovation center. The foodservice hub is being opened by Ahold’s services company, Retail Business Services, and its subsidiary Infinity Fresh Kitchen. The facility was purchased from Taylor Farms, with the company set to serve as the strategic partner managing the hub’s operations and workforce.
“As the services company of Ahold Delhaize USA, the largest grocery retail group on the East Coast, Retail Business Services is charged with finding innovative solutions that enable the local grocery brands we support to focus on serving their customers,” said Roger Wheeler, President of Retail Business Services. “Infinity Fresh Kitchen is the latest example of this innovation, which will help our retail partners bring the latest fresh, convenient items to their customers.”
The Rhode Island-based facility will process fresh food items for area grocery stores, including cut fruit and cut vegetables; leaf, grain, and pasta salads; and sandwiches, wraps, and other items commonly found in deli or grab-and-go sections of supermarkets, according to a press release. In its first few months, the facility will primarily serve the Hannaford and Stop & Shop brands.
“We’re pleased to work with Retail Business Services on this innovative facility,” said Bruce Taylor, Chairman and CEO of Taylor Farms. “We look forward to completing the outfitting of the facility and getting operations underway in the coming months.”
On top of servicing area grocery stores, the new facility will also feature a Culinary Innovation Center that will test new, fresh, and private-brand food concepts.
“We want to create food items that perfect the expected and delight consumers with the unexpected,” said Jacqueline Ross, Vice President of Private Brands Innovation for Retail Business Services. “We’re excited to allocate a portion of the space in this facility to private brand product innovation, particularly fresh, nutritious items and preparations.”
Construction is officially underway, with operations expected to begin in September. Taylor Farms and Retail Business Services are currently in the process of hiring employees to fill about 250 jobs.
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