BEAR, Del. — Dot Foods, Inc., North America’s largest less-than-truckload consolidator in the food industry, celebrated the opening of its Family Health Center facility at its Bear, Delaware, distribution center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 7, completing the company’s rollout of Family Health Centers across all 13 of its U.S. distribution centers.
Dot Foods and Dot Transportation, Inc. employees, community leaders and elected officials joined company leadership for the celebration, which included a noon ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours of the new 1,524-square-foot center at 301 American Boulevard.
“Having health care available right here at our Bear facility is a tremendous resource for our employees and their families,” said Sean Walsh, assistant general manager of Dot Foods’ Bear distribution center. “Our team works a variety of schedules, so having an on-site provider makes it convenient for employees and their families to get the care they need.”
The Family Health Center, operated by Marathon Health, is accessible to more than 200 Dot Foods and Dot Transportation employees in Bear, along with their spouses and dependent children enrolled in Dot’s medical insurance plan. The center includes exam rooms, laboratory space, and offices for its health care team.
Services available include primary care, sick visits, preventive screenings, chronic disease management, wellness education, annual physicals, lab work, vaccinations, and Department of Transportation physicals for commercial drivers. The family health center also offers employees easy access and refills to their prescribed medications.
Many services are available at no cost to eligible employees and family members, while others are offered at a low cost. The on-site center gives employees and their families convenient access to routine care and support for ongoing health needs without having to travel to another medical office.
“For more than a decade, our Family Health Centers have helped make high-quality health care more convenient and affordable for our employees and their families,” said Mandi Clark, Dot Foods vice president of human resources. “Opening the Bear Family Health Center means employees at all our U.S. distribution centers now have access to this benefit. It’s an important milestone for Dot and reflects our continued investment in the health and wellbeing of our people.”
Dot launched this strategic initiative to ensure all employees have access to affordable, high-quality health care in 2013 by opening its first Family Health Center at the company’s Vidalia, Georgia, distribution center. All U.S. distribution centers now have on/near-site healthcare available to employees. It’s a unique benefit among area employers.
“Dot Foods is showing what it looks like to invest in the people who make a business successful,” said New Castle County Executive Marcus Henry. “This Family Health Center gives employees and their families greater access to convenient, affordable health care, while helping Dot attract and retain a strong workforce. We’re proud to have Dot Foods in New Castle County, and we’re excited to see the company continue to grow and invest here in Bear.”
Among the elected officials and community leaders attending the Oct. 7 ribbon-cutting ceremony were Delaware State Rep. Kamela Smith; Delaware State Sen. Nicole Poore; New Castle County Executive Marcus Henry; New Castle County Council President Monique Williams-Johns; John Gentile on behalf of U.S. Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester; the Rev. Dr. Christopher Alan Bullock of Canaan Baptist Church and former New Castle County Council president; Yvonne Deadwyler, president and CEO of the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce; and representatives from the Food Bank of Delaware.
The ribbon cutting marks the official move to the new Family Health Center facility, located just feet from Dot’s warehouse and truck yard. Marathon Health has been serving patients for several months at the Delaware distribution center; providers and patients are both excited to now have access to the dedicated Family Health Center facility. Dot is also in the midst of a significant expansion of its Bear location, adding more than 150,000 square feet of warehouse space in ana project that is expected to be complete in spring 2027. The expansion will allow the company to stay ahead of increasing demand in the Northeast region. Dot and Dot Transportation expect to add more than 60 warehouse and truck driver roles in the next year to support the growth.
About Dot Foods and Dot Transportation
Dot Foods, Inc. carries 130,000 products from 1,500 food industry manufacturers, making it North America’s largest less-than-truckload consolidator in the food industry. Through Dot Transportation, Inc., an affiliate of Dot Foods, the company distributes foodservice, convenience, retail, and vending products to distributors in all 50 states and more than 55 countries. Dot Foods operates 13 U.S. distribution centers, which are located in Bullhead City, Arizona; Modesto, California; Bear, Delaware; Vidalia, Georgia; Burley, Idaho; Mt. Sterling, Illinois; University Park, Illinois; Cambridge City, Indiana; Williamsport, Maryland; Liverpool, New York; Ardmore, Oklahoma; Dyersburg, Tennessee; and Manchester, Tennessee. Dot Foods' Canadian operations are located in Ingersoll, Ontario and Calgary, Alberta. For information, visit DotFoods.com.
Dot Foods and Dot Transportation are both looking to fill several positions for full and part-time drivers and warehouse personnel at all U.S. locations. To learn more about careers at Dot Foods visit Careers.DotFoods.com. For more on opportunities available with Dot Transportation, visit DotTransportation.com.