PUNTA GORDA, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott attended the ribbon cutting of Cheney Brothers Inc.’s fifth Florida facility, a new food distribution center in Punta Gorda. The new facility will create 380 new jobs for families in Charlotte County. Cheney Brothers Inc. currently employs more than 2,000 Floridians statewide.
Governor Scott said, “Last year, I attended the ground breaking for this new distribution center, and I am proud to join the Cheney Brothers team today to officially open their newest facility. Cheney Brothers Inc. has already created more than 2,000 jobs for Floridians, and the creation of 380 new jobs in Punta Gorda is great news. We will keep working to support Florida companies like Cheney Brothers Inc. so our state can be first in the nation for job creation.”
Cheney Brothers is a privately-owned Florida company and broadline food distributor carrying over 15,000 individual products. Cheney Brothers currently has locations in Riviera Beach, Ocala, Orlando, Miami, and now Punta Gorda. The opening of the Charlotte County facility will provide a closer distribution center to its customers in the Tampa Bay region and southwest Florida.
Byron Russell, CEO and Chairman of Cheney Brothers, Inc., said, “This project has been years in the making, and we are proud to cut the ribbon and officially open the doors of Cheney’s Brothers newest facility in Charlotte County. On behalf of the whole Cheney Brothers team, I would like to thank Governor Scott and our local partners at the Charlotte County EDC for their support during this exciting process.”
Shane Simmons, Cheney Brothers, Inc. Southwest Florida President, said, “This new facility will help Cheney Brothers continue to meet the needs of our customers across the state and provide new job opportunities for hundreds of Floridians. We look forward to officially beginning a great relationship with the local families and businesses in the Punta Gorda community.”
The broader wholesale trade, transportation and logistics industry employs more than half a million Floridians. As the Western Hemisphere’s commercial gateway, Florida’s logistics & distribution industry is poised to grow further with the Panama Canal expansion in 2016 and the numerous infrastructure developments and upgrades underway around the state.
Bill Johnson, President & CEO of Enterprise Florida, said “Today’s ribbon cutting for Cheney Brothers’ new facility in Punta Gorda is exciting news for Southwest Florida. With over 2,000 employees statewide, Cheney Brothers is taking advantage of Florida’s incredible business climate and commitment to economic development. I look forward to their continued success in helping us diversify our economy and creating more opportunities for Floridians.”
Florida Department of Economic Opportunity Executive Director Jesse Panuccio said, “Today’s ribbon cutting at Cheney Brothers is another milestone for one of Florida’s significant job creators. Great businesses like Cheney Brothers continue to expand in Florida because of our pro-growth, low-tax environment.”
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