Reinhart Foodservice plans to double size of East Huntingdon plant, add 24 jobs

Reinhart Foodservice is set to nearly double the size of its food distribution facility in East Huntingdon with the help of a state grant and a local property tax abatement program.

Reinhart plans to invest more than $30 million to rehabilitate its existing 169,000-square-foot plant and construct a 155,000-square-foot addition. The operation is located at the Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corp.’s Westmoreland Distribution Park East/West.

According to Richmond, Va.-based Performance Food Group, which purchased Reinhart in 2019, the expansion is being driven by growing customer demand in the fresh food industry.

The expansion will include additional cold storage space, machinery and equipment.

Reinhart expects to add 24 jobs to the 255 already at the site, with hirings likely to include drivers and warehouse workers.

“Reinhart is an important part of PFG’s Performance Foodservice division, and we’re excited to grow our operations in Western Pennsylvania,” said Craig Hoskins, PFG president and chief operating officer. “We have many valued customers and great opportunities in the region, and we’re looking forward to adding to the tremendous talent we already have to serve them.”

The expansion project will benefit from a $72,000 grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development as well as a six-year abatement of property taxes by the township, Westmoreland County and Southmoreland School District.

Under the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance (LERTA) Act, taxes on improvements to the property will be abated 100% in the first two years of the agreement, 75% in the third year, 50% in the fourth year, 30% in the fifth year and 15% in the final year.

Joel Suter, chairman of the East Huntingdon supervisors, said it’s important to keep the company’s operations in the township and the county.

“We’re glad to have them here,” he said. “It’s going to create new tax revenue, and I’m sure it’s going to add more than 24 jobs. I’m sure there will be more trucking jobs and spin-off jobs.”

Reinhart is one of eight businesses in the industrial park with combined employment of about 750.

“The decision by a national corporation to expand locally sends a strong signal of confidence,” said Mark Anthony Thomas, president of the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance, the economic development affiliate of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development. “Expansions of existing businesses in Southwestern Pennsylvania have accounted for the lion’s share of regional economic activity over the last 14 years.”