US – Freshly, a meal delivery service owned by Swiss food giant Nestle is opening a second distribution center in suburban Atlanta, Georgia to meet rising consumer demand.
According to a statement from the company, the new distribution center will be built at a cost of US$52 million and will create employment opportunities for another 665 workers.
Freshly announced the Atlanta project four months after it announced a US$3.2 million center in Austell projected to employ 250 people.
The subscription service delivers precooked meals that customers can quickly reheat and eat.
Freshly has been expanding rapidly since Nestlé acquired it last year and currently, Freshly ships over one million meals per week to customers in 48 states.
The company recently introduced Proteins & Sides, its first meal format expansion beyond single-serve entrees.
The multi-serve, ready-to-heat dishes are designed to mix and match, offering greater meal customization and cooking shortcut options, Nestlé said.
The proteins are lightly herbed and seasoned, while the sides include better-for-you twists on classic comfort foods. The Proteins & Sides menu includes five proteins and three sides.
The launch of Proteins & Sides not only marks the next phase of growth for Freshly, but also underscores our ongoing commitment to bringing innovative solutions that are keeping our customers healthy and happy on their busiest days in an ever-changing world.
“Over the past year, food consumption habits changed dramatically as people searched for easy meal options without sacrificing on health,” said Mike Wystrach, founder and chief executive officer of Freshly.
“Now, with the return to daily routines around the corner for both individuals and families alike, having access to convenient and nutritious food choices is more important than ever.”
With the new distribution center, Freshly will qualify for a state income tax credit allowing it to deduct $4,000 per job from Georgia income taxes for five years, worth up to $13.3 million.
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