Dot Foods, Mt. Sterling, Ill., announced plans to begin construction of a new distribution center in Bear, Del., later this year. The facility is expected to be operational in fall of 2019.

The new $36 million facility will be constructed on 35 acres of land near the intersection of Red Lion and Wrangle Hill Roads. Dot also established trucking operations for its affiliate Dot Transportation at a terminal location in nearby New Castle, Del. Dot plans to hire 50 drivers for the New Castle terminal location; those drivers will move to the Bear distribution center when it is up and running. In total, Dot will hire 125 people for warehouse, truck driver and administrative roles within the first year, and up to 200 employees by 2022.

“We’ve already started hiring in the region and have great truck driving careers available today,” says Dick Tracy, president. “Our New Castle terminal is up and running. Our drivers are a key part of our business, and we have some great opportunities at our newest location. We’re excited about the talent available in this area as we hire drivers, warehouse personnel and office staff.”

The new distribution center will house main and outbuilding facilities totaling over 188,609 square feet. That includes more than 111,000 square feet of refrigerated, frozen and dry storage warehouse space, 12,600 square feet of office space and a 9,700-square-foot garage.

“It is a great day when we get to announce a new distribution center,” says Tracy. “The Delaware location will give us more capacity in the East. This is a high-volume area of the country where we expect to see continued growth. Our Delaware location will service customers in Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.”