Willmeng Construction recently celebrated the successful completion of a highly complex tenant improvement project for United Foods International. Located at 6363 W. Dobbins Road, in the Loop 202 corridor, the 129,172-square-foot shell building has been transformed into a state-of-the-art food preparation and packaging facility for a leading global firm. The completion of this facility was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting event on Thursday, May 7. The event underscored the collaborative effort required to first attract major international companies and then deliver the world class facilities they need to succeed.
“I would like to express our sincere gratitude to Mayor Gallego and the entire team at the City of Phoenix, the State of Arizona, and our regional partners. Your support and guidance throughout this entire process have been invaluable to us,” said United Foods International President Take Shimura. “This new factory is a reflection of the vision and our commitment to innovation and growth alongside this community.”
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“I’ve spent my entire career in Phoenix, and I’ve seen this market evolve from primarily local and regional growth to what it is today—a place competing on a global stage,” said Willmeng CEO James Murphy. “United Foods International represents exactly the kind of partner driving that evolution. They are bringing high standards, discipline, and innovation to everything they do and this new facility will help them maintain their position as a leader in their industry.”
United Foods International, a U.S. affiliate of the Japan-based Senba Group, is a global company with affiliated production sites across Asia. The company handles complex manufacturing for custom, high-quality products, including natural, organic, kosher, and gluten-free offerings. This marks the second major facility Willmeng has completed for United Foods International, following a successful 112,000-square-foot building located at 777 S. 67th Ave., completed in 2021.
“United Foods International has multiple facilities throughout our country and we’re so honored that Phoenix is where you chose to expand and we look forward to continuing to work with you to make this an incredible success,” said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. “This state-of-the-art facility is impressive. From robotics to cutting edge technology, food manufacturing is not just about good quality jobs, it’s also about fun and great tastes.”
For Willmeng, earning repeat business from such a high-profile, global client demonstrates Willmeng’s project sophistication and exceptional ability to consistently deliver vital, high-quality facilities for the growing number of international companies choosing to locate in the Phoenix market.
“This is our second project with United Foods International, which speaks to trust, performance, and a shared commitment to doing things the right way,” said Murphy. “It also reflects something bigger: Phoenix and Arizona are not just attracting global companies—we’re building up the capability to deliver for them consistently.”
To meet UFI’s strict manufacturing standards, Willmeng navigated highly technical complexities throughout the buildout. The project scope featured the creation of specialized spaces, including two cook rooms, a dryer room, a packing room, two freezers, three coolers, and administrative offices. To construct these environments, the Willmeng team oversaw the installation of approximately 127,000 square feet of Insulated Metal Panels (IMP) for the facility’s walls and ceilings. Furthermore, because the team took over a tilt-up shell with no concrete slab, they were able to make the strategic and highly coordinated decision to route all necessary electrical and process piping utilities entirely underground. This meticulous zoning and layout ensured the space would perfectly accommodate UFI’s specialized processing equipment, such as cooking kettles and dryers, before the floor slabs were even poured.
This project’s success was made possible through incredible collaboration with the project’s design firm, Deutsch Architecture Group, and strong relationships with the City of Phoenix and SRP. Working closely with Don Brown and the City of Phoenix Annual Facilities Program allowed the build team to navigate permitting and approvals in a timely manner. Willmeng also credits the outstanding execution by key trade partners, including SubZero Constructors Inc., Wilson Electric, Adobe Drywall, and Technique Flooring, who all played a vital role in keeping the project flowing smoothly.
