Specialty food company to open Mattapoisett facility

May 30, 2014

You won't be able to buy exotic mushrooms or imported cheeses, but specialty food company Sid Wainer & Son is expanding its operation to Industrial Drive.

Owned by Henry Wainer and based in New Bedford, the company specializes in gourmet produce, cheeses and other foods.

Currently, all of Wainer’s operations are at its headquarters in New Bedford, which processes, packages and distributes food all over the U.S. and internationally. There is also a retail outlet.

Wainer recently purchased a property at 11 ½ Industrial Drive to expand his growing business.

“The facility was something of the size that we need, and the location was great right off the highway,” said Wainer. “It’s kind of a backup to the New Bedford facility because we’re out of space.”

He said the 45,0000 square foot warehouse would have 15 to 20 employees who would focus on fulfilling online orders.

“Hopefully that will grow because it’s a growing entity in America today,” Wainer said.

The facility will also help fill orders to big box stores, including Costco and BJ’s.

The building was formerly owned by Peter Lesco of Lesco Distributing Company and will need to be fitted with refrigeration equipment before Sid Wainer & Son moves in.

Wainer, his Vice-President Tom Furtado and neighbor on Industrial Drive John Folino of Cape Building Systems, met with the Zoning Board of Appeals on May 15 seeking a variance for equipment that would not meet setback requirements on the property.

The board unanimously approved the petition and Folino said all the other neighbors to the property were “unanimously in favor” of the new addition.

Building Inspector Andy Bobola voiced his support of the new company and said it would be good for tax payers and the job market.

"I think it’s a business that’s going to be there for a long, long time," Bobola said.

Wainer said the warehouse will be regulated by the FDA and can be inspected at any time by the USDA.

“We have a QA team. We’re very responsible about the way we do business,” said Wainer.

If all goes according to plan, the facility will be up and running by Sept. 1.