Fresco Foods, Inc. to Expand in Hillsborough County

November 30, 2016

Tampa, Fla. – (Nov. 29, 2016) – Fresco Foods, Inc., operator of Eat Fresco, a provider of healthy prepared meals, today announced that it is building a new commercial kitchen and food service production facility in eastern Hillsborough County.  The project will bring up to 50 new jobs in roles ranging from sales and marketing, quality assurance, operations, customer service and food production. Fresco Foods, Inc. will invest approximately $1.5 million in the expansion.

“Since our launch in February 2015, Eat Fresco has experienced tremendous demand in Florida,” said Robert Povolny, president of Fresco Foods, Inc. “Working with CBRE and the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation (EDC), we found an ideal location for a large scale production kitchen in Hillsborough County with access to the major interstates. The EDC also provided us with valuable support for our expansion, helping us to expedite our plans for growth.”

The new 12,000 square foot facility, located at 9410 E. Broadway Avenue, will be completed in January 2017, allowing Fresco Foods, Inc. to scale its business throughout the state next year and develop partnerships with large retailers.

Recognizing a void in the prepared foods marketplace for healthier meals, Povolny developed Eat Fresco to meet the demands of time-starved consumers seeking convenient, flavorful and nutritious meals that they can feel good about eating. Eat Fresco also serves the needs of retailers – already facing stiff competition from restaurants and meal kit delivery services – to offer their customers “better for you,” convenient meal solutions that are portable and ready to eat.

“We are excited to see young entrepreneurial businesses like Fresco Foods thriving in Hillsborough County,” said the Hon. Stacy White, chairman of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners. “We will do whatever we can to support their growth and thank them for creating more jobs for families in our community.”

Fresco Foods, Inc. raised $2 million in growth capital through a combination of debt financing and equity investment. With Sunshine State Bank’s assistance, the company was approved for a Small Business Loan in late October. Additional capital was raised by partnering with Westshore Holdings-FFI, a newly formed private equity firm that provides funding to promising startups.

To help Fresco Foods, Inc. staff up quickly, the EDC introduced the company to CareerSource Tampa Bay, which offers resources for screening and hiring new employees. The EDC also connected Fresco Foods to resources at Hillsborough County for expedited permitting and sales tax exemptions, saving the business time and money.

“We are pleased to be working with fast-growing young companies like Fresco Foods to help them find the talent they need and provide more local career opportunities,” said Ed Peachey, president and CEO of CareerSource Tampa Bay. “We look forward to being a valuable resource for them as they continue to expand.”

“Fresco Foods’ impressive success in its first year in business is a point of pride for us, demonstrating the quality and diversity of entrepreneurs we have in Tampa and Hillsborough County,” said Ken Atwater, Ph.D., chair of the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation and president of Hillsborough Community College. “The EDC is committed to helping Fresco Foods succeed with their current expansion plans and looks forward to assisting them with future growth initiatives down the road.”

About Fresco Foods, Inc.
Fresco Foods, Inc. produces Eat Fresco, a line of fresh prepared meals, packaged for sale within the retail market.  Eat Fresco elevates the standard of prepared foods, setting a new bar for taste, quality and transparency in the consumer packaged goods market. Fresco Foods, Inc. was founded in July, 2014 in Tampa, Florida. Founder & President Rob Povolny has vast experience in consumer packaged goods and has held multiple leadership roles within the industry. Fresco Foods Inc. has assembled a strategic team and the essential resources to build a large-scale, industry-altering business.  For more information, http://www.eatfrescofoods.com/