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November 9, 2016

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Caldwell County’s largest private employee is expanding again.

Merchants Distributors, Inc., a wholesale grocery distributor, is investing $5 million to add 50,000 square feet to its distribution center, which is in the Caldwell County portion of Hickory just south of the Granite Falls Wal-Mart.

According to Caldwell County Economic Development Commission Executive Director Deborah Murray, the expansion is expected to be completed in early 2017. She discussed the expansion plans at a meeting with the Caldwell EDC Board of Directors.

MDI has more than 2,200 employees at the distribution center. The company ships products to approximately 600 stores, primarily in the Southeast.

In 2014, MDI began a $20 million project to add more than 116,000 square feet to the distribution center’s freezer facility.

By Guy Lucas, (Lenoir) News-Topic