The City of Burlington and Guilford County announced a partnership with Ahold Delhaize USA to build a distribution center in Burlington during a press conference Oct. 22. Ahold Delhaize USA is the U.S. division of the global food retailer and the parent company of several grocery stores, including Food Lion, Hannaford and Stop & Shop.
According to a spokesperson for the company, Ahold Delhaize USA is investing $860 million into the project, and the distribution center is estimated to bring around 500 or more jobs to the area.
The press conference was held at Impact Alamance in downtown Burlington with several community leaders and members in attendance, including North Carolina state Sen. Amy Galey and state Rep. Stephen Ross.
Burlington Mayor James Butler said he was enthusiastic about the partnership and the jobs expected to come to the area.
“There's going to be somebody they can provide for their family in a meaningful way. That's going to be their first trip to Disneyland. That’s the first home that they buy,” Butler said.
Member of the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce Marvin J. Price echoed the mayor’s praise for the project and said bringing Ahold Delhaize USA — a large, international company — into the local community will benefit the region.
Guilford County Commissioner Melvin “Skip” Alston expressed his anticipation for a boost in the local economy and praised Ahold Delhaize USA for its decision to invest in the area.
“Their decision to invest here shows that this region is a place people want to be,” Alston said. “A place that people believe in.”
According to Alston, this development project is working in tandem with several other developments around the area. This includes the $5.6 million that the state put into developing water infrastructure along Highway 61 South under previous mayor of Burlington, Steve Ross. Alston spoke about the Burlington City Council’s strategic efforts to develop its partnership with Guilford County in order to create equal benefits for the 2,500 residents between the two areas.
Alston also highlighted recent developments such as recreational areas such as Springwood Park and Guilford-McIntosh Park, and the sportsplex being constructed on the western side of Burlington — all factors that encouraged Ahold Delhaize to invest in Burlington as an up-and-coming city, according to Alston.
Alston also acknowledged the decision made during the COVID-19 pandemic by the city council to set aside pandemic relief funding for future projects such as these developments.
“We tighten our belts, we put it back and we said, we're going to use this money for economic development so that it can be the gift that keeps giving,” Alston said.
Alston also recognized partners who helped move the deal along, including Elon University.
Mayor of Troutman, North Carolina, and Vice President of Government Affairs for Ahold Delhaize USA Teross Young also spoke at the press conference.Young said he was proud to be growing Ahold Delhaize’s presence in North Carolina, where the company has been present for over 65 years.
“This investment fund not only strengthened the local economy,” Young said. “But it also reflects a deep commitment to our communities that have supported families Ahold Delhaize over a decade.”
The meeting ended with all four speakers raising a glass of champagne to celebrate the future of the Burlington and Guilford County areas, as well as their new partnership with Ahold Delhaize USA. They said the project represents a major accomplishment for both communities and holds strong economic promise for local residents.