Calavo Growers, Inc., Santa Paula, Calif., completed the purchase of a production facility in Riverside, Calif., to further enhance the national footprint for the company’s Renaissance Food Group, LLC (RFG) business segment and position the segment to serve its growing customer base across the southwestern United States.

The 128,000-square-foot facility, which is situated on about 11 acres, was previously owned and operated by affiliates of the former Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Markets.

The company described the new facility as nearly “turnkey,” which will allow RFG to quickly expand capacity and meet growing demand for its fresh, value-added packaged fruit and vegetables, ready-to-eat salads and prepared foods offerings.  The facility’s state-of-the-art design allows for an efficient start up, optimal food safety measures and quality production flow. 

“This best-in-class facility aligns with and extends our company’s strategic growth initiatives to build a leading market position in the refrigerated fresh packaged foods category,” says Lee Cole, chairman and CEO. “The new facility enables us to satisfy demand from several key accounts in Southern California, while providing the platform for deeper market penetration across the southwest, including southern Nevada, Arizona and Utah. Quick-turn, ‘just-in-time’ order fulfillment is a cornerstone of RFG’s operating success, along with the outstanding depth and breadth of its product portfolio.”

The new Riverside facility follows the recent addition of a 209,000-square-foot production and distribution center near Jacksonville, Fla., and the new renovation and expansion of the 89,000-square-foot production facility in Houston, Texas.