The Research Triangle Region's central location and excellent interstate highway system provide quick access to the entire East Coast market - key assets that prompted Food Lion Supermarkets to locate two crucial distribution centers here.

Food Lion is one of the largest supermarket chains in the United States, with 1,200 stores in 11 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states. The company maintains its low price leadership and quality assurance through technological advances and operating efficiencies ?? including innovative warehouse design and management.

"Getting product to our stores on time, as needed, is critically important,? said Lou Delorenzo, Food Lion director of distribution. ??Each distribution center is near interstate highways, which is important for transportation. And each area offered a good pool of potential emplo! yees, willing and able to develop the skills necessary to be successful.?

The region also offers reasonably priced land and warehouse space, especially in its rural counties. That makes the region ideal for logistics and distribution operations of all sizes.

??In logistics planning and implementation, location and geography play a huge role in how the puzzle is put together,? says Duane Long, logistics expert and president of Longistics, operator of the Raleigh-Durham Foreign Trade Zone 93. ??The fact that we in the Research Triangle Region can reach 70 percent of the United States population by overnight truck is a great geographical advantage. World-class distribution operations will take this and all of our other advantages into consideration as they make their plans for today and into the future.?

It"s because of these competitive advantages that the Research Triangle Regional Partnership targets logistics and distribution as one of! 10 key industry clusters for recruiting new business investment.

Food Lion first opened a one million-square-foot perishable food distribution operation in 1988 in Dunn, in Harnett County. Today, the center employs 600 people and serves more than 250 Food Lion stores.

With that center performing well, the company opened a second center in Butner, in Granville County, in 2001. The new operation distributes health and beauty products, serving all 1,200 Food Lion stores. The Butner location employs some 300 workers and covers about 420,000 square feet.

??We are fortunate to have the Food Lion distribution center as a long-term member of our business community,? said Lee Ann Nance, Harnett County economic development director. ??Our proximity to I-95 and I-40 and our workforce provide a successful operating environment for distribution.?

??The company has been extremely pleased with the performance of these centers, as we anticipated,? Delorenzo said. ??It??s our belief that this region of North Carolin! a offers great opportunities for a vast array of businesses. The infrastructure is in place, and a stable work force is present.?