Kroger, Radians to Add New Jobs in Memphis

By Amalia Otet, Associate Editor

Radians, a Bartlett-based supplier of personal protective equipment, recently announced plans to expand its business by acquiring a 92,000-square-foot facility in Memphis that would help consolidate all its functions, including warehousing and distribution. The project calls for a $6 million investment that would create 69 new jobs, with salaries ranging from $27,600 to $52,000 annually. Company officials had applied for an eight-year PILOT in support of thr endeavor, yet the Memphis Business Journal reports they have withdrawn their application for tax abatement from the Memphis-Shelby County Industrial Development Board.

Radians Inc. operates facilities in two other locations besides Tennessee, in Nevada and Michigan, which it uses to distribute a large array of protective gear including eyewear, hearing protection, head gear and accessories. Apart from its own brand, the company also distributes Dewalt, Remington and Black & Decker.

In other news, Kroger Co., one of the largest retail food companies in the U.S., made public its acquisition of eight Schnuck Markets Inc. stores in the Memphis area, in a deal that also triggers the latter’s exit from the local market. Kroger intends to remodel and re-open under the Kroger name all of the stores over the next few weeks and give the opportunity to former Schnucks employees to fill some positions in the new outfits.

“For over 60 years, Kroger has proudly served the Memphis community,” said Mark Prestidge, Kroger Delta Division president, in a press release. “Kroger has demonstrated its commitment to the Memphis area by investing over $70 million on remodels, expansions and fuel centers over the last five years. We continue to focus on upgrading our store base in an effort to provide our customers the best shopping experience possible. With this acquisition, we are pleased to be able to provide more convenient locations for our customers to shop at in the Memphis area.”