Food facility in Quonset Business Park expected to add 250 jobs

CORRECTION: The original version of this story placed Progreso Latino in the wrong city.

NORTH KINGSTOWN -- A new fresh processing facility and culinary innovation center is under construction at Quonset Business Park and will add 250 jobs to the Rhode Island economy.

Infinity Fresh Kitchen, a subsidiary of Retail Business Services, a company of Ahold Delhaize USA, owners of Stop & Shop and other grocery chains, is behind the project at 320 Commerce Park Rd.

The facility will process fresh food items for grocery stores, including cut fruit and cut vegetables, leaf, grain and pasta salads, sandwiches, wraps, and other items commonly found in deli or grab-and-go sections of supermarkets.

Initially, the facility will serve the Hannaford and Stop & Shop brands.

They will pair with Taylor Farms, a Salinas, California-based, food service company that produces fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, to manage the facility’s operations and workforce.

The facility will also include a Culinary Innovation Center, which will continually test new, fresh, private brand food concepts.

“We want to create food items that perfect the expected and delight consumers with the unexpected,” said Jacqueline Ross, vice president of Private Brands Innovation for Retail Business Services, in a press release.

“We’re excited to allocate a portion of the space in this facility to private brand product innovation, particularly fresh, nutritious items and preparations.”

Initial operations at the facility are expected to begin in September.

Upcoming job fairs for positions will be held regularly each Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon at the facility. They will also be held in the netWORKRI Providence office at One Reservoir Ave., Cranston, each Wednesday in July from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and at Progreso Latino, 626 Broad St., Central Falls, each Friday in July from 9 a.m. to noon.

Taylor Farms will also post information about employment opportunities at the new facility on its careers page, taylorfarms.com/careers.