Republic National Distributing Co. moving forward on new distribution center in Ashland.

Plans for a new 260,000-square-foot industrial facility in Ashland are moving forward with the purchase of a 22.7-acre site by Republic National Distributing Co.

According to the Richmond office of Colliers International, Republic National purchased the land on Washington Highway in Hanover County from Virginia Truck Center of Richmond Inc. for $1.9 million. The site is near the new Vitamin Shoppe warehouse center.

The company, the second largest distributor of premium wines and spirits in the U. S., announced in May that it wanted to build a new distribution facility in the Virginia Transportation Park in Hanover, near Interstate 95.  The company needs more space close to a transportation network to meet a growing customer base.

The company primarily distributes wine and sells about 3 million cases a year of such brands as Sutter Home, Woodbridge and Franzia.

Republic National has been in Virginia since 1997 and plans to relocate from its current location in a 160,000-square-foot building in Sandston, in eastern Henrico County.

According to information from the Hanover County Office of Economic Development, the new facility in Ashland will have a 30,000-square-foot office, a 250-seat auditorium and wine tasting and hospitality rooms.