Grocer WinCo Foods announced it will open an 800,000 SF distribution center in west Phoenix. The new facility, expected to be completed in about a year, will create up to 200 jobs in its first phase.

“We are very excited about the development of our Phoenix Distribution Center,” said Michael Read, WinCo Foods’ Vice President of Public and Legal Affairs. “It will give us a much more economically favorable opportunity to service our stores in the southwest and will allow us to grow our business in the Greater Phoenix market and in other areas within the geographic reach of the facility.

“It will also give us the opportunity to create good jobs for many individuals as we open and will allow us to grow the employee base as we continue to grow the company.”.

“Working with WinCo Foods on this distribution center demonstrates their commitment to grow in the region and the city’s commitment to doing all that we can to assure that Winco’s building can be constructed and delivered in a timely manner,” Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton said.

“Phoenix’s competitive advantage in real estate, low operating costs and talented workforce make our city an attractive location where WinCo is creating jobs with an economic impact that goes beyond our city limits to benefit the whole region.”

The distribution center will service WinCo’s Arizona, southern California and southern Nevada supermarkets. Metro Phoenix already has three WinCo Foods retail locations Mesa, Glendale and Phoenix.

The new distribution center will help them grow their operations and storefronts in Arizona and throughout the southwest. Currently, they are serviced by a distribution center in Modesto, Calif.

“WinCo Food’s decision to build its newest distribution center in Arizona speaks volumes about our state’s strategic southwest location and advanced transportation infrastructure,” said Sandra Watson, president and CEO, Arizona Commerce Authority.

“This project represents a significant investment in our state and demonstrates how collaborative regional partnerships attract quality employers such as WinCo to Arizona.”

“WinCo’s new distribution center is one of the largest build-to-suit projects this region has seen over the past few years – another positive sign that our economy is turning around,” said Barry Broome, president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.

WinCo Foods chose its distribution center site in west Phoenix with the help of Kupperman Location Solutions.