Food Lion to expand tornado-damaged warehouse

Delhaize America, the parent company of the Salisbury-based supermarket chain, plans to add 54,000 square feet to the warehouse to increase storage for refrigerated and frozen items. Officials didn't say that the expansion would create any jobs at the distribution center, which employs more than 700.

“The expansion of this facility will further support storage capacity for Food Lion grocery stores,” Gerry Greenleaf, vice president of distribution and transportation for Delhaize America, said in a statement. “After the devastating tornado that struck North Carolina this spring, we evaluated opportunities to further enhance this facility as part of our rebuilding efforts. As our business grows and storage capacity needs increase, this was the right opportunity to expand this distribution center.”

The Dunn distribution center opened in 1987 and supplies 12,800 items to 264 Food Lion stores.

Grocery operations have resumed at the warehouse, and crews are working to rebuild the refrigerated and frozen foods area to resume normal operations, officials said. The company expects to open the facility’s expanded space in early 2012.