Convenience products distributor to double size in Salem

Layman Distributing, a woman-owned wholesale distributor of convenience and grocery store products, will invest $6.8 million to expand in Salem, adding 42 jobs, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Friday.

The company will relocate to a facility at 2157 Aspersion Drive, doubling its current square footage and operational capacity.

Founded in 1948, the company is currently located at 1630 West Main St., in Salem.

“Layman Distributing is a homegrown Virginia company that has found success for 75 years in the city of Salem, demonstrating the strength of the commonwealth’s strategic location, world-class infrastructure, robust workforce and innovative supply chain ecosystem,” Youngkin said in a statement. “The Roanoke region provides a convenient gateway to reach target customer markets, and this expansion will allow Layman to further extend its distribution reach. We look forward to a continued partnership with the company for years to come.”

Layman began its business distributing tobacco products and now offers more than 12,000 stock-keeping units of convenience and grocery store products to its customers, which include convenience stores, restaurants, universities, dining halls, vending services and independent grocers.

“This new facility will increase our efficiency so we can continue introducing new product lines, optimize inventory levels and provide new services,” W. Scott Thomasson, the company’s vice president of sales,  purchasing and warehouse operations, said in a statement. “Additionally, this new facility will also give Layman the space to show off our new virtual convenience store and test kitchen. The Layman family and her employees have worked hard to realize this place in our history, and we can’t wait to enjoy a beautiful new home to showcase all we can do for our customers, employees and community. Our vision is to become the preeminent C-store and food distributor in the mid-Atlantic region, and now that vision has an opportunity to be realized.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the city of Salem and the Roanoke Regional Partnership to secure the project for Virginia and will support Layman Distributing’s job creation through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program, which provides services and funding to companies creating jobs in order to support employee recruitment and training activities.