Page 7 - July 2024 Issue

Kendall Teague, business development “Acquiring the Ridgely distribution “ e facility … will employ up to 300

coordinator with Caroline County center allows us to build our people.”
Economic Development is part of the infrastructure to accommodate

rapid response team. our growth well into the future,” e purpose of the “additional facility,”
MacDonald said at the time. e along with the one in Ridgely, were to

Teague said the team was “excited facility would “provide employment grow its Maryland footprint, according
about helping” transition displaced opportunities to an area of Maryland to then-Maryland Commerce Secretary
employees to other jobs. CCED will hit had with recent job cuts.” Mike Gill.
also advertise the property and reach
out to prospective buyers. Teague recalled when Medifast’s Ridgely Despite the hard hit to Medifast
distribution center had upwards of 300 employees, Schneckenburger sees the
A 2-day job fair for displaced Medifast employees. upside. “It’s a good time to get a job.
employees, led by the rapid response I mean, unemployment is still in the
team was held June 25 and 26 at the Early in 2022, Medifast expanded into mid-twos (percent) on the upper shore
Ridgely plant. Harford County with a new distribution in Caroline County, and that means
facility in Havre de Grace, designed to there are job openings out there.”
As for what Medifast plans to do with “signi cantly accelerate delivery times

the 119,000 square foot building built in and improve service-level agreements” “Maybe you’ll even get yourself a raise,
1987, and the nearly 12.5 acres of land, according to a Feb. 2022 press release or you’ll nd a job that’s closer to your

“these are still ongoing conversations from the Maryland Department of home,” he said. “ ink positively; this

and we do not have any information Commerce. e same release stated, might be a good sign.”

to share at this time,” according to the
June 13 email.
An o cial statement from Medifast What happens with Medifast Field?

explained the company’s decision to

leave Ridgely: “ e decision to close Between the back of the Ridgely building and the Oakview subdivision is the
our Maryland Distribution Center Caroline Cougars football eld that sits on 4.6 deeded acres, also owned by

aligns with our commitment to future Seven Crondall Associates, LLC, a subsidiary of Medifast.

growth and e ciency as we streamline
our operations to better meet the Caroline Cougars President Domingo Llanes of Ridgely said he’s reached out
evolving needs of our customers and to Medifast’s local management about the future of the electric supply the
position ourselves for continued success company has donated in the past.
in the marketplace.” e independent youth football and cheer program attracts about 200 youth

In July 2003, Medifast had reached an from pre-K through middle school. Llanes fears the electricity will be shut

agreement with NewRoads, Inc., to o by the plant’s closing date of July 31, just when the Bayside Conference’s
buy the Ridgely facility. At that time, mandated practice season begins. When that happens, the snack shack won’t
revenues had “more than doubled” over be able to provide food and drinks, a major fundraiser. No lights, supplied by
the previous year, according to then- the organization, means the teams’ practices will be cut short.
CEO Brad MacDonald. Llanes has approached the Caroline County Commissioners and Recreation

and Parks about providing practice and playing elds at the North County
Park in Greensboro, but that complex won’t be up and running in time for this
season’s needs. He said the Medifast building might be an ideal and needed
indoor sports complex.

Caroline Review
NEWS

Daily news
online and

in your inbox.

7