Wegmans Food Markets Invests $175 Million to Establish New Regional Distribution Operation

Governor Ralph Northam announced Wegmans Food Markets, a grocery retailer with stores throughout the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions, has planned to invest $175 million to establish a full-service, regional distribution operation in Hanover County. Virginia successfully competed with North Carolina for the project, which is expected to create 700 new jobs.

Located along the Sliding Hill and Ashcake Roads in Ashland, Virginia, the new campus will allow the company to expand its distribution network on the East Coast and accommodate its growing retail footprint. The announcement follows a recent domestic marketing mission where the governor met with Wegmans real estate and development officials at the company’s headquarters in Rochester, New York.

“It’s a significant win when a business decides to create 700 full-time and well-paid jobs, and we are proud that a company of Wegman’s stature has chosen to establish its major new operation in Hanover County,” said Governor Northam. “Virginia is a world-class transportation and logistics hub, and the location of this campus will greatly enhance Wegmans’ fast-growing East Coast distribution network. I was grateful for the opportunity to meet with Wegmans officials to discuss ways we can strengthen our partnership, and I look forward to the company’s continued success in the Commonwealth.” 

Founded and headquartered in Rochester, New York, Wegmans food Markets is a 101-store supermarket chain with stores in New York, Pennsylvania, new Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts and North Carolina. The family company is recognized as an industry leaders and innovator and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016.

“Wegmans’ decision to establish a new distribution campus in Hanover county is a strong testament to the Commonwealth’s prime East Coast location and advanced infrastructure,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball. “Leading retailers and distributors from around the world continue to choose the greater Richmond region as their home base for supply chain operations, and we are proud to have Wegmans on Virginia’s corporate roster.”

“This site has the right combination of everything we were looking for in terms of proximity to our stores and workforce and is located in a Commonwealth that we have partnered with for many years,” said President and CEO Colleen Wegman. “Once it’s up and running, this facility will allow us to deliver products to our southern stores with increased speed and freshness and will help support our growth well into the future.”