Greensboro, N.C.-based The Fresh Market will keep its corporate headquarters in the Triad and add 53 new jobs over the next five years. The Fresh Market will consolidate its operations from two buildings it currently occupies into one location. The company is investing $5.4 million in the new space.
The average annual wage of the new jobs announced will be $70,113, according to the North Carolina Department of Commerce. When combined with the existing 248 positions, the average wage for all 301 jobs will be $86,000. The average wage in Guilford County is currently $47,955.
“We’re proud that The Fresh Market has chosen to expand its operations at home in Greensboro, where the company began as a single store and continues to grow,” said N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper.
Last Thursday, High Point and Greensboro city councils each committed $301,000 in performance-based incentives to keep The Fresh Market. Later that evening, the Guilford County Board of Commissioners approved an additional $106,000.
In addition to local incentives, the N.C. Department of Commerce provided a performance-based grant of $500,000 from the One North Carolina Fund. All One NC grants require a matching grant from local governments and any award is contingent upon that condition being met.
From its original store in Greensboro, Fresh Market has grown to 159 locations in 22 states.
“Greensboro has been our home for the past 37 years, and we are thrilled to be able to make a long-term commitment to staying in this community and be able to build on our vision,” said Fresh Market President and CEO Larry Appel. “We are excited to be able to unite all of our headquarters team members in one building and provide them with as welcoming a place to work as it is for our guests to shop in our stores.”