FreshDirect’s Co-Founder and CEO Jason Ackerman (center) was joined by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and other Bronx leaders to participate in a ceremonial “first dig” to commemorate the groundbreaking of FreshDirect’s new facility at the Harlem River Yard on Monday.
Monday’s groundbreaking at FreshDirect’s new facility, although met with protests, largely went off without a hitch, with approximately 200 FreshDirect employees, suppliers, and vendors joining in the ceremony. Also in attendance were Bronx elected officials Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Reverend Senator Ruben Diaz Sr., New York State Assembly Members Carl Heastie, Jeffrey Dinowitz and Marcos Crespo. President of The Bronx Overall Economic Development Corp. Marlene Cintron, and FreshDirect Co-Founder and CEO Jason Ackerman were there as well.
Before breaking ground at Harlem River Yard, Jason Ackerman thanked his supporters, “I am grateful for the widespread support we have received for our relocation and am looking forward to continuing our record of creating local jobs and strengthening our local community.”
The groundbreaking ceremony took place within a tent on the proposed site, which will, as FreshDirect plans, become a 500,000 square foot facility. FreshDirect asserts that the new facility will, “create more local jobs, foster employee growth opportunities, and provide additional capacity to allow the company to offer a greater selection of high-quality, fresh food to customers.”
Talk at the ceremony focused on new jobs and commercial growth that would benefit the Bronx. Ardent supporter of FreshDirect’s new Bronx facility, Ruben Diaz, Jr. said in a statement, “This project represents new jobs, and new development, and is a key component of our ‘New Bronx’ agenda,”. Continuing, he said, “FreshDirect has cleared every hurdle placed in its way, and today’s groundbreaking puts the company on the fast track to their future Bronx relocation. I’m proud to support FreshDirect, and I look forward to continuing to work hand-in-hand with the company and the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation to put even more Bronx residents to work.”
FreshDirect boosts that their plans for the site will include an electric charging station for it’s fleet of trucks and indoor/outdoor gardens for employees, as well as in-house manufacturing facilities for kitchens and bakeries. According to the company, they state that the site will use energy-efficient lighting, refrigeration, and air conditioning.
The current plan is slated to be completed by late 2016.
Video courtesy of Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. office:
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