Driscoll Foods will open a food service distribution facility in Amsterdam, in the warehouse formerly occupied by Quandt’s Foodservice Distribution.
“This decision by Driscoll Foods to expand their operations into Montgomery County and transform an abandoned facility is bringing new economic energy into the local community,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday in a news release.
Last fall, Quandt’s, a family-owned business, was purchased by US Foods, a national food distribution company with existing facilities in the area, and the subsequent consolidation led to the loss of the 110 jobs in Amsterdam. According to Cuomo, Driscoll’s expansion will help create 60 new jobs.
Driscoll Foods currently has 350 employees and is a major food distributor in the Tri-State area. Its main facility is in Clifton, N.J.
“I’m excited it’s a family-owned company with a strong reputation,” said Montgomery County Executive Matthew Ossenfort.
No new facility has to be built, since Driscoll will be moving into the warehouse that Quandt’s left behind. Because of this, Driscoll expects to be operational in Amsterdam within weeks.
Empire State Development, which is the chief economic development agency in the state, had offered a grant of up to $200,000 to Driscoll to help renovate the warehouse.
An official at ESD explained that it was important for Driscoll to establish operations in Amsterdam. Otherwise, the Quandt’s facility could’ve remained vacant for a much longer period of time.
According to the official, Driscoll’s takeover of the facility in Amsterdam is a much quicker turnaround than upstate New York typically has experienced over the years.
Ossenfort hopes Driscoll investing in the community will be part of a trend of private businesses also investing in the county. “It’s great to have good news out of Montgomery County,” he said.
