Sysco International Food Group Inc. bought vacant industrial land in Westlake Industrial Park, sparking questions whether it is the identity of Project Moana, the code-named distributor that was expected to choose a location in the second quarter.
Houston-based Sysco Corp. markets itself as the world’s largest food distributor. It has two cold-storage food operations in Jacksonville already.
A Sysco spokesperson provided a statement July 23:
"Sysco often purchases land in cities where it believes there is potential for growth and expansion. Our International Food Group has long enjoyed being a part of the community and we hope there will be an opportunity for us to expand, grow and create more jobs in Jacksonville."
Jacksonville City Council voted July 22 to grant final approval for $2.5 million in incentives for a “well-known international wholesale distributor” to expand in Jacksonville with a $90 million food distribution warehouse, described as an additional facility.
The city Office of Economic Development requested the incentive through Resolution 2025-0481, which provides the funding through a 60%, five-year Recapture Enhanced Value grant, which is a refund on ad valorem tax revenue generated by a new development or property enhancement. It can apply to property and tangible personal property.
According to an OED staff summary, Project Moana plans a capital investment of $80 million in new construction and $10 million in equipment for the 275,000-square-foot expansion warehouse.
City Office of Economic Development Executive Director said July 23 he had no comment.
In the summary, Project Moana is described as a distributor that employs more than 10,000 people worldwide, including more than 200 in Florida. Sysco has far more international employees than that.
Sysco says it has more than 71,000 colleagues worldwide and operates about 333 distribution facilities, serving more than 700,000 customer locations.
Sysco International Food Group Inc. owns a 3.1 million-square-food cold-storage operation on 17.7 acres at 3000 W. 45th St. in Northwest Jacksonville.
Sysco Food Services Jacksonville Inc. owns a 315,580-square-foot cold storage and distribution center on 56.6 acres at 1501 Lewis Industrial Drive in Northwest Jacksonville.
Project Moana plans to add 100 employees, primarily for logistics and warehousing activities, to its workforce in Jacksonville with an average annual wage of $52,000, plus an average of $13,700 in annual benefits.
The documents indicate that the Jacksonville site will use JaxPort and will require sewer upgrades, including a new lift station, and roadwork to facilitate ingress and egress at its chosen site.
The company plans to have the facility up and running by late 2029, the OED staff summary says.
Whether coincidence or not, Sysco paid $16.5 million on July 22 – the same day as the Council approval – to buy land along Pritchard Road from Becknell Industrial LLC of Indianapolis.
Sysco bought vacant land on Lot 21, a 171-acre site.
The deed recorded July 23 with the Duval County Clerk of Court specifies the acquired property as almost 96 acres.
Becknell sold the land through Jacksonville 21 Becknell Industrial LLC. Colliers Executive Vice President Guy Preston represented Becknell in the sale.
Becknell has been positioning the property for development. City utility JEA issued a service availability determination letter Feb. 4 for Westlake Industrial Lot 21 to see if it had service access for up to 1.2 million square feet of industrial space.
Lot 21 apparently is divided into two parcels.
JEA is reviewing a service availability determination request submitted July 16 for Lot 21A for 609,000 square feet and a shared-use drive.
Becknell Industrial and the Colliers real estate firm have been marketing the site, at one point divided among a 128.63-acre “pad-ready” Lot 21A and a second phase 42.45-acre Lot 21B.
Property records show that Pritchard Road Florida Becknell Investors III LLC paid $8.96 million for the vacant 171-acre site in December 2019.
Pritchard Road Florida Becknell Investors sold the property internally to Jacksonville 21 Becknell Industrial LLC on March 26, 2025, for a consideration of $15.2 million.