Baldor Specialty Foods, a leading distributor of premium and specialty produce, meat, fish, dairy, and grocery items in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, is set to expand its restaurant and food service capabilities with the opening of a brand new facility in the Washington, D.C., area on Tuesday.
Located in Lanham, Maryland's Hargrove Industrial Campus, the new 100,000-square-foot warehouse is only 12 miles away from metropolitan Washington and in close proximity to major highways.
This expansion represents a significant investment in Baldor’s growing operations in the Washington metro area, and enhances its ability to serve customers across Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia. The new facility, which includes 35 dock doors and state-of-the-art refrigeration and frozen storage capabilities, will enable Baldor to scale its operations, increase delivery efficiencies and continue its tradition of sourcing fresh, local products. The facility will also support local employment, with 140 employees at present and plans to hire many more, including drivers and warehouse staff.
Founded by Kevin Murphy in 1991, and now led by his son, CEO TJ Murphy, Baldor remains a family-owned company committed to quality, service, and innovation. The company prides itself on sourcing high-end and unique items, along with everyday necessities, and services many of the best chefs in its region, including 75% of Michelin star restaurants. With this new facility, Baldor is positioned to meet the growing needs of the region's foodservice and retail sectors.
The Lanham facility will serve as the fourth hub for Baldor’s operations, joining the company’s headquarters in the Bronx, N.Y., and regional hubs in Boston, Mass. and Philadelphia, Pa. Baldor first launched in the area in 2012, with a small cross-dock facility in Jessup, Md.; demand grew quickly, with the facility ultimately serving 1,000 of the company’s 14,000-plus total customers.
Baldor sought out the Lanham property in November 2022. A full warehouse that is eight times the size of the former cross-dock facility, the Lanham property will house 7,000 products and feature advanced picking capabilities. The new facility will serve a broad geography that is marked by Belair, Md. in the north, the Maryland and Delaware beaches to the east, Richmond, Va. to the south, and Frederick, Md. to the west. That delivery area includes several major cities, including Baltimore, Annapolis, Richmond and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
The lease signing marked the start of extensive renovations, including the installation of temperature-controlled refrigeration and freezing rooms to ensure optimal storage conditions for Baldor’s diverse range of perishable products. This work was completed, and all products and accounts were migrated to the new warehouse in September.
Baldor’s investment in the Lanham area goes beyond the operational advantages of the new facility. The company is also committed to sourcing from local farmers and suppliers, providing a platform for regional businesses to thrive.
