Wegmans Food Markets, Rochester, N.Y., announced plans to invest $175 million to establish a full-service, regional distribution operation in Ashland, Va., creating 700 new jobs.

Located along Sliding Hill and Ashcake Roads, the new campus will allow the company to expand its distribution network on the East Coast and accommodate its growing retail footprint.

“This site has the right combination of everything we were looking for in terms of proximity to our stores and workforce, and is located in a Commonwealth that we have partnered with for many years,” says Colleen Wegman, president and CEO. “Once it’s up and running, this facility will allow us to deliver products to our southern-most stores with increased speed and freshness, and will help support our growth well into the future.”