Business Breaks Ground On 230K Square Foot Building In Columbia

COLUMBIA, MD — The family-owned foodservice distribution company Saval Foods has broken ground on a new headquarters facility in Columbia Gateway.

The company will build a 230,000-square-foot building that will include a new distribution center and multi-story office building. Saval Foods leadership said it will keep its existing 391 full-time employees and carve out an additional 107 new full time job openings within the next four years.

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"Our state is home to a world-class food scene and, for nearly a century, Saval Foods has supported our food, restaurant and tourism industries by delivering quality product and service to the region," said Gov. Wes Moore at the groundbreaking ceremony. "As our administration builds a dynamic economy, supports our communities and builds pathways to work, wages and wealth, we look forward to our continued partnership with Saval Food as they expand in Howard County."

The new headquarters will combine Saval's corporate operations and two existing Howard County businesses – Saval Foodservice, the company's broadline food distribution business and 1932 Specialty Produce & Meat, its fresh produce and fresh-cut meat division – together into a single, larger facility.

"This new headquarters represents an important milestone for Saval Foods," said President and CEO of Saval Foods Paul Saval. "Bringing our operations together under one roof will allow us to work more efficiently, strengthen collaboration across our teams and create the space we need to continue growing. We're excited to partner with Howard Hughes Communities to build a headquarters that reflects where Saval is today and where we're headed in the future."

Founded in 1932 as a small family-owned deli operation and now in its fourth generation, Saval Foods has grown into one of the Mid Atlantic's largest broadline foodservice distributors.

"We're incredibly excited to make this investment in Maryland and continue building on Saval's long history in the region," said Saval Foods Executive Vice President Brian Saval. "As we enter our 95th year in business, this new facility will give us the capacity to grow into our next chapter while strengthening our ability to serve and champion independent restaurants throughout the region."

Saval supplies restaurants, delicatessens, caterers and other food service establishments with products including fresh-cut meat, produce and seafood. During construction of the new facility, the company will also continue operations at its four existing facilities in Howard County, Baltimore County and Baltimore City.

"We are proud to be a partner on this project and combine our expertise in development with an organization like Saval Foods," said Howard Hughes Communities Senior Vice President of Development Gabe Chung. "Saval Foods has deep roots here in Howard County, and we're excited to support their continued growth across Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, Delaware and Pennsylvania."

To assist with project costs, the company is eligible for a $1.75 million conditional loan through Advantage Maryland, administered by the Maryland Department of Commerce. The project site is located within a designated Enterprise Zone, making the company eligible for state tax credits.

The company also is eligible for an $800,000 repayable loan through the Howard County Economic Development Authority's Catalyst Fund, as well as up to $175,000 in workforce training and development grants.

"As a family-owned company with deep roots and a long history of serving communities across the region, Saval Foods exemplifies the kind of business we are proud to support. Saval's decision to invest in a new state-of-the-art distribution center and office headquarters in Columbia not only creates new career opportunities for our residents, but more importantly, is a tremendous vote of confidence in Howard County and the exceptional business environment my administration has worked hard to cultivate," said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball.