Food supplier gobbles up Reno site

An Ohio-based food merchandise supplier is joining Reno’s expanding distribution industry.

Hubert, a 68-year-old business based in Harrison, Ohio and owned by Germany’s TAKKT AG, is leasing a 145,000-square-foot facility on Industry Circle.

The company plans to spend $2.7 million on building improvements and equipment to outfit the distribution center.

Hubert looked elsewhere in the west, including Salt Lake City and Fresno, Calif., but decided to locate its second-largest warehouse in northern Nevada.

“Reno was determined to offer the best combination of cost, transportation lead time and logistics support to serve the western market,” said Rodger Reed, general manager of Hubert’s Western Distribution Center. “Reno’s value as a logistics hub is enhanced by its business-friendly tax and regulatory environment.”

The company will provide 1-2 day delivery to customers in 13 western states out of the Reno warehouse, its second U.S. distribution location.

“Market analysis provides confidence that we can obtain incremental sales growth by exposing current and new western customers to an enhanced value chain through shorter lead times and decreased freight cost,” said Reed.

Hubert plans to relocate three employees from its Ohio headquarters to the new distribution hub and employ 15 to 20 workers, including general warehousers, cycle counters and quality control specialists, Reed said.

Hubert supplies large cafeterias, restaurants, hotel chains and food retailers with a range of products, including commercial kitchen equipment, cooking supplies and apparel.

The company sells to customers in North America, Germany, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

Joel Grace, vice president, marketing and competitive expansion with the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, assisted Hubert with its search.

Dan Buhrman of CBRE represented Hubert and Gordon Zack CBRE represented the landlord in the lease transaction.