Food Services of America Inc., of Seattle, is undertaking an $8.8 million expansion and renovation at its big food-service distribution facility in northeast Spokane.


Mike George, president of Food Services Spokane branch, says the company started work earlier this month on a 38,000-square-foot freezer expansion and also is reconfiguring its warehouse space. That work is scheduled to be completed next January.


It will increase our efficiency enormously, he says.


Either later this year or early next spring, the company also plans to start a 12,000-square-foot office addition at that facility, which is located at 3520 E. Francis.


Together, the two additions will give Food Services a total of 240,000 square feet of floor space there.


After the new freezer space is completed, the company plans to convert its current freezer space, in which frozen food is stored at 5 below zero, into chill space, where produce and some other foods will be stored at temperatures between 32 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit, George says. The current chill space will be converted into additional warehouse dry-storage area.


The freezer addition and warehouse reconfiguration account for about $7 million of the total cost of the improvements.


The $1.8 million office expansion will more than double the amount of office space there, to 21,000 square feet of space from 9,000 square feet, and involves adding a second story to the one-story office area at the northwestern corner of the facility.


George says that during the construction project, Food Services likely will place portable office buildings on land near the distribution facility and move staff members into those temporary quarters.


Lydig Construction Inc., of Spokane, is the general contractor on the freezer and warehouse work, but Food Services hasnt selected a contractor yet for the office project. Lindquist Architects, of Spokane, designed the improvements.


The Spokane operation is one of eight such Food Services distribution facilities in the northern U.S. and serves restaurants, hospitals, schools, and other establishments in Eastern Washington, North Idaho, and Western Montana.


Food Services has about 315 employees who work in the Spokane region.