It’s no secret that Lathrop has long been a choice for distribution centers thanks to its close proximity to two key California freeways and the access point for the San Francisco Bay Area.
But the city took a major step forward in solidifying its appeal in 2016 by landing two major distribution centers – a hub for UPS and a distribution center for Kraft Heinz – that will only raise the city’s profile for companies looking to take advantage of the city’s easy access.
It’s been two years since the City of Lathrop grabbed attention by negotiating an agreement to bring Tesla – Elon Musk’s popular startup that manufactures electric vehicles and battery panels that he claims will revolutionize the future of energy – into an abandoned Mopar distribution center just off of Interstate 5. In that time frame, Tesla has maxed out the 431,000 square-foot space that they moved some of their Fremont-based operations into, and have plans to expand that facility to accommodate more growth.
So in August when the city announced an agreement with Kraft Heinz to utilize the shuttered Pilkington glass plant that had served the community for more than five decades had been reached, it marked the second time in three years that Lathrop had landed a major corporation that was attracted to the city’s location, it’s future potential and its business friendly atmosphere.
“The City of Lathrop has exactly what we were looking for in the strategic transition of our distribution facility,” said Michael Mullen, SVP of Corporate and Government Affairs at Kraft Heinz in a release that was distributed in August. “We were able to find a top-notch facility that’s located in the metro triangle, a city with great economic potential, and a group of local officials and developers who have been excellent partners.”
The news was welcome to the ears to civic leaders who were thrilled to have another world-class facility recognize the work that the city has taken to become a destination for businesses.
“I welcome Kraft Heinz to our city,” Lathrop Mayor Sony Dhaliwal said in a statement. “I am very proud of the fact that such a reputable company has chosen Lathrop for its distribution operations. On behalf of the City Council and the residents of the City of Lathrop, I wish them continued success.”
While the Kraft Heinz facility is not yet operational, trucks are rolling into and out of the UPS distribution hub that recently opened on Harlan Road to augment their existing facilities in the community and the region. According to Dhaliwal, that facility could bring as many as 700 jobs to the city once all of the hiring is completed and everything is operating at a high level.
To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.
