Foster Caviness selects Winston-Salem for expansion project
We agree with the company’s longest-serving employee, Cristobal Lopez, and give this move a thumbs up. | Photo courtesy Foster Caviness
Winston-Salem is welcoming fresh business. Foster Caviness, a produce warehousing and distribution company based in Guilford County, is expanding to the Twin City. The move is expected to generate ~$6.25 million in capital investments over five years.
The 122-year old company, which is also known as Foster USA, will take over a 165,000-sqft facility on Lowery Street, where it plans to start construction on six new ripening rooms in December. The plant is expected to be fully operational by March 2025.
The company will bring 140 current Guilford County employees to the Winston-Salem facility and will hire another 165 workers to assist with operations. Those positions will include delivery drivers, warehouse associates, account managers, and other roles. The average wage will be $55,452.
“We’re excited to deepen our roots in this wonderful community to build the most robust fresh food supply chain in the mid-Atlantic,” said Foster CEO and Owner Scott Bland. “At Foster, people are the heart of everything we do, and we believe connecting people to fresh, quality food is paramount.”
The company’s recent acquisition of Greenville Produce necessitated its need for more space to meet demand.
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Photo courtesy Foster Caviness
City, county, and economic leaders worked to make the move a reality. City Council unanimously approved an incentives package totaling $86,550 over five years on Tuesday, Sept. 3. Forsyth County Commissioners followed suit on Thursday, Sept. 5, unanimously approving a separate package totaling $88,749.
“Forsyth County offers a lot of opportunity and access for distribution and logistics operations, and this is one of our key industry sectors for economic growth,” said Greater Winston-Salem, Inc. President and CEO Mark Owens. “This project exemplifies our location’s advantages in the sector, including prime facilities, ease of transportation, and a strong talent pipeline.”
According to county records, Winston-Salem beat out Columbia, SC and Charlotte for the project.
Events
Monday, Sept. 9
“A Tale of Two Journeys” | Monday, Sept. 9 | 6 p.m. | Mary Alice Warren Community Center, Lewisville | Free | Hear the fascinating story about two 500-mile walks from Bethlehem, PA to Bethabara, NC that took place 255 years apart.
Tuesday, Sept. 10
Pitch-Space LIVE | Tuesday, Sept. 10 | 5-6:30 p.m. | Flywheel Coworking | Free, RSVP | Learn more about the entrepreneurial scene as tech startups make their pitches and an investor panel gives feedback.
Wednesday, Sept. 11
Farmers Market | Wednesday, Sept. 11 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | New Philadelphia Moravian Church | Cost of purchase | Bring a lawn chair and enjoy a meal from a food truck after shopping from a variety of vendors.
Thursday, Sept. 12
Voter ID Seminar | Thursday, Sept. 12 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Malloy/Jordan East Winston Heritage Center | Free | Learn about NC’s new photo ID requirement and get an ID that will be allowed at polls this November.
Friday, Sept. 13
Moonlight Madness: 5K + Monster Mile + Fun Run | Friday, Sept. 13 | 6-9:30 p.m. | Bailey Park | $10+ | Get moving at this family friendly fundraiser for the United Way that will include races, live music, food trucks, and a glow party.
Ownership of a 74,558-sqft shopping center in a growing location of Kernersville has changed hands. Greensboro-based Deep River Partners purchased Main Street Market on Market View Drive from Barclay Group out of Tampa. (Triad Business Journal)
Outdoors
Learn about improvements planned for Shallowford Square in Lewisville tonight, Sept. 9. The informational meeting starts at 6 p.m. at the square on Shallowford Road.
Featured
You can help Texas Pete make the list of finalists for “The Coolest Thing Made in NC” contest by voting daily until Wednesday, Sept. 11. The hot sauce that’s made in Winston-Salem has been around more than 90 years and is the third best-selling hot sauce in the country.
Health
The Wake Forest Institute of Regenerative Medicine is sending lab-grown organoids — smaller, simplified versions of organs — into space. Researchers at the International Space Station will study how a low-gravity environment could benefit cancer research back on earth. (FOX8 WGHP)
Edu
Third graders in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools will get to visit key locations across the city thanks to a $30,000 grant. The NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources’ America 250 Initiative dispersed $900,000 across 34 counties for the creation of local activities to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary happening in 2026.
Community
Get ready for the fourth annual Forsyth Fun Fest featuring music, a job fair, free food, and more. The free family-friendly event is happening Saturday, Sept. 21 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Human Services Campus on North Highland Avenue.
Plan Ahead
Celebrate Piedmont Environmental Alliance’s achievements this year + learn how to get involved with events and initiatives at the 2024 Annual Party on Thursday, Nov. 14. Register to attend the free event at Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Sports
What would your high school’s football team do with $100,000? School officials can register your school for the chance to win T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights contest. (We’re looking at you, Mount Tabor). Psst — give @ourWStoday a tag when you rally on social media so we can boost it.
Try This
Happening this week — The Face to Face Speaker Forum kicks off its 2024-25 season this Wednesday, Sept. 11. Up first: A discussion with Peyton Manning moderated by CBS sports commentator Tracy Wolfson. Get tix and see Manning + Wolfson (whose longstanding relationship will make for a great discussion) in this recent interview.*
Job
We’re looking for a Sales Executive in our sister market, SEAtoday, to identify and secure new advertising partnerships and grow existing client relationships on the SEAtoday team. Apply to join.
Eat
Fight the midnight munchies
Where to get late-night bites in Winston-Salem
This is what dreams are made of. | Photo courtesy Foothills Brewing via @foothillsbrewpub
It’s 10 p.m., do you know where your burger is? Here are five spots where you can satisfy your after-hours cravings after a night out on the town.
Editor’s note: These restaurants serve until at least 12 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, but menu options, delivery availability, and hours on other days might vary.
The kitchen and whiskey bar in Industry Hill is so committed to serving late-night snacks, it has a separate menu after 10 p.m. You can get your hands on tater tot nachos, wings, burgers, and chicken sandwiches.
Cap off your night with a craft beer and a bite from the restaurant and brewery’s full menu. Fill up on a signature entree or grab a burger, sandwich, salad or wrap — or score a deal on some items on Mondays. Have the whole group in tow? City Editor Cambridge recommends the loaded cheese tots or the beer cheese nachos.
A wireless travel charger compatible with practically any device. It’s capable of charging your smartphone, smartwatch, or headphones — meaning no more dead devices on the go.
I celebrated my five-year wedding anniversary this weekend with a lovely dinner at Rooster’s. I always look forward to the tomato soup + the crab cake entree is so good I can never bring myself to order anything else.
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