Gov. Nathan Deal today announced that Variety Wholesalers, Inc., a retail store chain, will establish its second major distribution center in Coweta County, creating 320 jobs and investing approximately $10.5 million in the Newnan area. The distribution center will support Variety Wholesalers stores as the company expands its presence in the southeastern, midwestern and south central United States.
“Georgia’s business climate and transportation infrastructure continue to attract major businesses such as Variety Wholesalers to the state,” said Deal. “Variety Wholesalers’ decision to expand to Coweta County speaks to Georgia’s growing commercial infrastructure, demonstrates the significant investment opportunities offered by our ports and will further establish our state as an industrial magnet.”
Variety Wholesalers is based in Henderson, N.C., and operates 360 stores in 16 states. The newly created jobs will include positions in management, operations, transportation and logistics. Georgia Quick Start will provide customized training for new distribution center employees.
“We are very excited about opening this distribution center in Newnan, our first outside of North Carolina,” said Wilson Sawyer, chief operating officer of Variety Wholesalers. “The reception from the local, state and ports officials has been outstanding. We have enjoyed many years doing business in the state of Georgia, as we currently operate 48 of our 360 stores in Georgia with a new store opening in Newnan.”
Variety Wholesalers offers merchandise including apparel, shoes and accessories for the family, as well as home décor and furniture. The new distribution center will be located on Herring Road.
“We are delighted that Variety Wholesalers has chosen to locate in Coweta County,” said Coweta County Commission Chairman Tim Lassetter. “This is a great family-owned company with a long and distinguished business history. Variety Wholesalers will be an excellent addition to our local industrial community, and we look forward to having the company in Coweta County.”
“This project would not have been possible without the strong support of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Georgia Power, and our local economic development team led by Development Authority President Greg Wright,” said Coweta County Development Authority Chairman Terry Daviston. “We are grateful to have Variety Wholesalers in Coweta County, and we look forward to working with them as they grow in our community.”
“We are very pleased to see this family-owned business grow in our state,” said Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Griff Lynch. “Variety Wholesalers’ announcement brings substantial business to Georgia’s logistics industry, with solid volume forecasts for the future.”
Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) project manager Josh Stephens represented the Global Commerce Division in partnership with the Georgia Ports Authority, Coweta County Development Authority, the Coweta County Commission, Georgia Power, Georgia Quick Start and the North Carolina and Georgia offices of Binswanger Management Corporation.
“Georgia’s presence as a global logistics hub has and will continue to attract business, generating quality jobs and investment opportunities across the state,” said GDEcD Commissioner Chris Carr. “We are proud of the partnerships that led to Variety Wholesalers’ decision to expand in Georgia, and we look forward to working with the Coweta County Development Authority and the Georgia Ports Authority to support the company’s continued growth.”
About Variety Wholesalers, Inc.
Variety Wholesalers, Inc., is a family owned business that began in eastern North Carolina in 1922. In 1949, John W. Pope, then 24 years old, took over his family’s 5 “Five and Dime” stores, eventually growing them to one of the largest privately owned companies in the U.S. Today Variety Wholesalers is based in Henderson, NC and John Pope’s son, Art Pope, serves as chairman. Variety Wholesalers operates approximately 360 stores in 16 states throughout the Southeast.
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Jen Talaber Ryan
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