Marrero, La. is the home to the F. Christiana distribution center which was purchased by US Food Holding Corp. in 2017. The local known food distributor became a national known food distributor overnight. The New Orleans area distribution center is scheduled to expand and will be completed by the year 2020.

F. Christiana is known as the Gulf South’s leading food distributor. The business started with Nick Christiana Sr. who was an egg packer and a wholesale poultry dealer during the Great Depression. In 1963, the company officially became F. Christiana under his son Frank Christiana. A couple of years later, the company diversified from only eggs to poultry, pork, beef, cheese, and butter. When purchased from US Food Holding Corp., the company offered over 2,000 different items. US Food Holding Corp. provides products to approximately 250,0000 restaurants and food service operators.

“The company’s acquisition by US Foods has created extraordinary new opportunities for F. Christiana’s employees and customers,” Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said.

Plans for the expansion include adding 130,000 square-feet to the existing building. The revamp will include a kitchen and training center for product demonstrations and recipe innovation and an interactive technology center where customers may learn about the company.

With triple the facility size, the F. Christiana and Co. will go from a 140 person payroll to a 185 person payroll by 2020. The average annual salary will be $46,000 and the Louisiana Economic Development estimates an additional 38 new indirect jobs will come from the expansion.

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