Seafood, protein demand fuels Quirch Foods’ expansion

Quirch Foods is opening a new distribution center in Lebanon, Tennessee, U.S.A.

The new 65,000-square-foot facility, which will service customers in the U.S. states of Tennessee and Kentucky, is “strategically located” to cater to growing regional demand for seafood and other proteins, Quirch Foods said in a press release.

The Coral Gables, Florida, U.S.A.-based company is a distributor of fresh and frozen protein items sold through retail brands including Panamei Seafood, High River Angus, Mambo Foods, Chiquita Brands frozen Tropicals and Fruits, and others.

“This investment represents a significant milestone in our mission to meet the growing demand for our products,” the company said.

Quirch operates around 500 refrigerated trucks and has more than 2.3 million square feet of combined distribution space through 21 facilities in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Texas, Washington, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Puerto Rico. The company services ethnic, independent, and national grocers as well as foodservice and other customers across the U.S., the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

“We are excited about the positive impact this expansion will have on our operational capabilities and, ultimately, our ability to better serve our customers as well as provide solutions to their growing food needs,” Quirch President and CEO Frank Grande said.

The new facility will enhance the company’s distribution capabilities and ensure efficiency throughout its supply chain. It will also create job opportunities in the local community, promote economic growth and contribute to the region's prosperity, according to Quirch.

“We believe in fostering positive relationships with our neighbors and actively engaging with the communities we serve,” Quirch said.

Palladium Equity Partners, which acquired Quirch Foods in 2018, is working with Goldman Sachs Group to sell the company, Reuters reported in May 2023. The company has not issued an update on the sale process since the report was publicized. Quirch Foods completed a merger with Colorado Boxed Beef, a food distributor headquartered in Lakeland, Florida, in October 2020.

Photo courtesy of Quirch Foods