Food distributor to add 108 jobs in Newnan

By David Markiewicz

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Georgia got more good news on the jobs front Thursday. MBM Foodservice, a North Carolina-based food service distributor for national and regional restaurant chains, plans to open a food distribution facility in Newnan and create 108 jobs.

Hiring is expected to start in the first quarter of 2012.

MBM will invest $12.6 million to upgrade a shell building in an industrial park in the Coweta County city.

The company has an existing distribution facility in LaGrange in Troup County.

Gov. Nathan Deal said MBM, "is among the many distribution operations in Georgia that have found success here because of the strength of our high-performing logistics infrastructure. Our position as  a leader in this area makes doing business easier for companies like MBM and others that rely on a sound freight and transportation network to meet their customers' growing needs."

The company qualifies for $270,000 in job tax credits and $266,000 in  sales and use tax exemption.

The MBM announcement follows closely a flurry of project announcements  over the last two months that together could mean more than 2,500 new jobs in Georgia.

They include:

Chexar Networks, a Roswell provider of technology-based services that allow banks and other businesses to serve people without traditional bank accounts, plans to create 500 jobs at a risk management center in Cordele.

Hailo USA, the American division of a German manufacturing firm, will move its headquarters, open a wind turbine component facility in Elberton and create 500 jobs over five years.

SANY Heavy Industry of China plans to add a research and development center in Peachtree City and create 300 jobs.

Greenway Medical Technologies, a provider of electronic health records software and services, will add 400 jobs over three years at its Carrollton headquarters.

Mando Corp, a South Korea global auto parts supplier, plans 426 new jobs in Meriwether County in west central Georgia.

And Lowe's is to hire up to 600 people by 2016 at a regional distribution center near Rome.