LANCASTER,  TX (Oct. 28, 2009)—United Natural Foods Inc plans to lease a new 590,000-square-foot distribution center in Lancaster TX to support customer throughout the Southwest.

Operations are scheduled to begin in autumn 2010 and, within the first year, the company expects to employ approximately 130 new associates at the facility. The Lancaster facility, owned by ProLogis, a global provider of distribution facilities, will be United Natural Foods' 21st distribution center in its nationwide distribution network.

Plans for the new facility are near completion. They include dry grocery as main program space; 54,000 square feet of refrigeration and freezer space; an expanded cold dock; and nearly 20,000 square feet for employee offices and workspaces. Environmental design plans will focus on resource and energy conservation, use of sustainable and recycled-content building materials, and exceptional indoor air quality for the building occupants.

The company plans to pursue LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for this distribution facility once retrofitting is completed and facility operations commence. LEED is a third party certification program and a nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.