Buckhead Beef, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sysco Corp., will open a new state-of-the-art plant on the south side of Charlotte in late summer 2011.
A current building will be expanded upon to create the new 24,000-square-foot production facility that will service Charlotte and eventually both North and South Carolina.
Previously servicing Charlotte through its main plant in Atlanta, Georgia, Buckhead Beef will continue to offer its entire line of products, including certified Angus Beef, veal, poultry, fresh seafood, wild game, lamb, pork and specialty prepared foods.
“We are excited about the opportunity this new facility will give us to offer restaurants and chefs in the Charlotte area the same high level of quality products they have previously enjoyed but with a greater level of personal service,” says Chad Stine, president of Buckhead Beef. “Now chefs can request unique cuts with little lead time, allowing them more creativity in the kitchen.”
In addition to servicing Charlotte chefs and restaurateurs, the new Buckhead Beef facility will support Sysco operating companies in Charlotte, Raleigh, North Carolina, and Columbia, South Carolina. It also will bring 40 new jobs at inception, including butchers, delivery drivers, warehouse, local contractors and sales representatives, with future job increase due to an aggressive five-year growth plan that could easily reach 80 to 100 new jobs by the fifth year.
Incorporating the highest levels of technology, the plant will increase production and continue Buckhead Beef’s quality assurance, which includes seven steps beyond USDA food security and safety regulations.
The production equipment is all custom built to Buckhead Beef’s specifications, consisting of smart slice technology and state-of-the-art packaging machines, all of which are hand-constructed in Germany. These initiatives also will reduce Buckhead Beef’s carbon footprint.
“The refrigeration system will be the latest high-tech Freon based HVAC units on the market today, incorporating sophisticated temperature-controlled monitoring and alarm devices to maximize energy efficiency, maintain cold chain of inventory throughout the facility and reduce the likelihood of harming the ozone layer, surpassing EPA standards,” says Richard Blahnik, Buckhead Beef’s vice president of operations.
Since its inception in 1983, Buckhead Beef has leveraged its operating philosophy of “providing the finest quality products at the best possible prices” to become North America’s leading supplier in premium protein. With a top-down commitment to quality, its dedicated employees are the catalyst of the company’s success. Breed and geographic oriented sourcing, packer-level alliances and state-of-the-art cutting facilities will continue to fortify its position in the marketplace.
The certified Angus Beef brand is the best Angus beef available and a cut above USDA rime, choice and select. Ten standards ensure its premium quality and incredible flavor, tenderness and juiciness. More than 12,300 restaurants and retailers around the world feature it.
