Batesville Secures Distribution Hub
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe state’s fulfillment center portfolio is getting larger. California-based Thrive Market is planning a hub in Batesville that could employ 250 workers by 2018. The company says it will invest more than $8 million into improvements and equipment at a former General Electric Lighting distribution location.
The new center represents a big expansion for the startup online health and natural products retailer. Thrive Market currently has 300 employees and the new center will serve customers in nearly three dozen states. Officials say it will be the company’s "most advanced" fulfillment center.
The membership-focused company was established late last year and features more than 400 brands, offering over 3,500 products.
Batesville Interim Mayor Gene Lambert says the city will embrace the company and is "a great fit for their needs in more ways than just having available space. Thrive Market is the simple solution that empowers us all to live well, do good and thrive together."
The announcement adds to a mix of good and bad news this year for the southeast Indiana city. Indianapolis-based Wood-Mizer LLC is under construction on a $8.4 million production plant. Officials also broke ground a few months ago on a new shell building at the Batesville Industrial Park near I-74. In June, Batesville-based Hill-Rom Holdings Inc. (NYSE: HRC) detailed a more than $2 billion acquisition of Welch Allyn Inc. and noted it was relocating its corporate headquarters to Chicago. Late last month, Mayor Rick Fledderman announced his resignation.
Fulfillment center growth has been steady throughout the state since the recent popularity of same and next-day delivery services. Amazon.com Inc. has expanded its presence in Hoosier sites like the River Ridge Commerce Center in Jeffersonville and, more recently, Integrated Distribution Services Inc. announced a facility consolidation in Plainfield that could bring more than 70 jobs to central Indiana.
Thrive Market could receive around $1.3 million in conditional tax and training support from the Indiana Economic Development Corp. and potentially more incentives from the Batesville Economic Development Commission.