ROSEMONT, Ill. – US Foods Holding Corp. broke ground Jan. 31 on the expansion of the company’s F. Christiana facility in Marrero, Louisiana. The facility, which is expected to be fully operational by late 2020, will expand from 70,000 sq. ft. to 200,000 sq. ft. and will support the company’s growth in Louisiana, parts of Mississippi and Alabama. The company hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for company leaders, government officials, US Foods customers and members of the community.

US Foods acquired F. Christiana, a distributor of food and food-related products, in June 2017.

“This is an important day for US Foods as we take the next step to expand our footprint in Louisiana and reaffirm our commitment to our customers and the community,” said Keith Knight, south region president for US Foods. “We would like to thank Louisiana Economic Development, Jefferson Parish and JEDCO for their ongoing support through the many phases of this important investment.”

The updated facility will include a state-of-the art kitchen and training center for customer product demonstrations and recipe innovation. The expansion will also include an interactive technology center to educate US Foods customers on the company’s web-based business solutions.

The facility is being designed to meet LEED Silver certification requirements featuring energy and environmental improvements including energy efficient refrigeration systems, energy saving LED lighting, optimized HVAC systems and water-efficient landscaping, according to the company. During the project the company will also be using recycled content furnishings and building materials.