Apparently, “BB” stands for bigger business.
Haddon House Food Products, the largest privately-owned distributor, importer and exporter of specialty, natural, organic, ethnic and kosher foods, is expanding its Chester County operations. The company is investing $4.6 million to expand its operations in Richburg, S.C. The investment is expected to create 55 new jobs.
Founded in 1960 and headquartered in Medford, N.J., Haddon House offers and maintains an inventory of more than 20,000 food products. In addition to the company’s existing Richburg, S.C. facility, Haddon House operates its other major distribution center in Howell, N.J. Collectively, the two facilities encompass more than 1,000,000-square-feet of warehouse space.
To expand its Chester County operations, Haddon House is constructing an addition to its existing facility. The addition will feature an expanded freezer distribution building. Located at 578B L and C Distribution Park in Richburg, the nearly 30,000-square-foot expansion will allow the company to continue to meet the needs of new and existing customers throughout the southeastern United States and Caribbean as the frozen foods sector continues to grow at an unprecedented rate.
Construction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2015. Hiring for the expanded freezer distribution building will be ongoing.
The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to the project.
“It is the continued support of Chester County, the great State of South Carolina and our deep respect for the fine people of Richburg which provides the ongoing desire to continue expanding our Richburg, South Carolina Distribution Center. We are grateful for the opportunity to service our customers from such a fine facility while developing additional employment opportunities for Chester County residents,” said Haddon House Food Products Chief Executive Officer David Anderson, Sr.
Governor Nikki Haley said new industries are certainly exciting, but said expansions are just as important to the economy of Chester County and the state.
“It’s always exciting when new businesses choose to come to South Carolina, but it’s a real reason to celebrate when we see one of our existing companies like Haddon House Food Products makes the decision to continue growing here. We congratulate Haddon House on announcing their second expansion in Chester County in only three years, and look forward to watching them succeed here for many years to come,” Haley said.
Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt said South Carolina has always been known for great food, and said the thriving food processing and distribution industries are an extension of that. South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers said “because of commitments like this, agribusiness has continued to be South Carolina’s number one industry” and he pledged support Haddon House’s investment in Chester.
For a while, this project went by the code name “Project: BB” when being discussed by Chester County Council. Chester County Supervisor Carlisle Roddey said the announcement shows that the county is doing a lot of things right and has the faith of Haddon House.
“We thank Haddon House for another vote of confidence by choosing to expand here in Chester County for a second time since 2012,” Roddey said. “Chester County continues in its efforts to create a pro-business atmosphere that is attractive to our existing industrial partners.”
Chester Development Association Chairman Brian Singleton called Haddon house “a great company” that is respected throughout the food industry.
From Staff Reports in The News & Reporter
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