It was a huge blow for the city when Lathrop’s 51-year-old glass manufacturing facility was shuttered for good in 2013.
But thanks to a team of local developers and financiers, the sprawling East Louise Avenue campus will now have another premier tenant that will provide jobs as well as a reputable name for the City of Lathrop as they make a push to become a major distribution hub for companies throughout California.
Kraft Heinz is coming to Lathrop.
The global food and beverage powerhouse just recently announced that they will be leasing a 723,000 square-foot portion of the project being dubbed the North Crossroads Business Center – the reclaimed float glass manufacturing facility that will serve as the consolidated distribution center for the company’s tomato plant processing facilities throughout the area.
“I welcome Kraft Heinz to our city,” Lathrop Mayor Sony Dhaliwal said in a statement. “I am very proud of the fact that such a reputable company has chosen Lathrop for its distribution operations. On behalf of the City Council and the residents of the City of Lathrop, I wish them continued success.”
With its central location and proximity to some of California’s major arterial freeways and interstate corridors, Lathrop has emerged as a viable option for companies looking to consolidate their distribution facilities.
“The City of Lathrop has exactly what we were looking for in the strategic transition of our distribution facility,” said Michael Mullen, SVP of Corporate and Government Affairs at Kraft Heinz. “We were able to find a top-notch facility that’s located in the metro triangle, a city with great economic potential, and a group of local officials and developers who have been excellent partners.”
The facility itself will be operated by Ryder Logistics, and is expected to employ between 25 and 30 people.
The building was purchased by its current owners in 2015 after sitting vacant for more than a year. The development team of Jones Development Company and Reynolds and Brown – both based here in Northern California – spearheaded the effort to transition it from its previous use into something that will be able to serve the community and their future tenants for decades to come.
Speaking on behalf of the development team, Dana Parry and Randy Jones stated that “We are pleased to be able to accommodate the new home for Kraft Heinz’s Northern California distribution activities and are confident that they will benefit from the business park’s superior location and amenities in the business friendly City of Lathrop.”
To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.
