Fairway Packing moves from Eastern Market to Fraser

FRASER — Meat distributor Fairway Packing moved operations from Detroit’s Eastern Market to a larger facility in Fraser this fall.

The new facility, which is currently open, is located on 15 Mile Road near the intersection with Kelly Road. The location is near Carmela Foods, which is a distribution partner with Fairway. The building is about 30,000 square feet and cost approximately $9 million, according to a press release from the Macomb County Department of Planning and Economic Development. The county worked with Fairway to secure a 12-year tax abatement on the property in Fraser, resulting in a projected tax savings of $3,266,459 for the company.

The release from the county stated that Fairway would create 100 new jobs while retaining its current 45 employees.

Fraser Mayor Michael Lesich said the land was vacant prior to Fairway moving in.

“Fairway Meat Packing coming to Fraser is a great opportunity,” Lesich said. “We are really starting to see some increase in our food-related businesses in that industrial park.”

The Fraser City Council had a public hearing for Fairway’s abatement at its meeting on Feb. 8, 2024.

Former Fraser Mayor Doug Hagerty spoke in favor of the abatement for the new development at that meeting. Hagerty said awarding abatements helps Fraser attract businesses to the area and keeps the city competitive with its neighbors.

“We offered 12-year abatements for everybody that met the criteria for that and the result was $100 million worth of investments in that park in 36 months and 1,000 new jobs. It’s these kind of guys that you want in our community,” Hagerty said, gesturing to representatives from Fairway.

Gino Baratta, one of Fairway’s owners, said at the meeting that the company was started in 1956 by his family. Gino is one of the third-generation owners of the company.

“It’s been a good run in Detroit, but we saw a good opportunity with Fraser,” Baratta said. “We have a lot of friends who do business here and we’re excited to be here. I think we’ll bring a lot of nice attention. We deal with the finest restaurants and country clubs not only in the local area, but throughout the state. What we have building down the street here is truly a state-of-the-art meat processing facility.”

Beretta said Fairway’s proximity to Carmela would provide a unique opportunity for events where those interested can see behind the scenes of the dry aging process, the cutting process and the grinding process.

“The whole farm-to-table (process) is going to be available to anyone, to the public, which is really cool to see,” Beretta said. “With Carmela, with that beautiful culinary center, we’ll be able to do chef-inspired dinners. Have some of the top chefs from around the country here in town to do things like that.”

“Thanks for investing a great amount into our community,” Councilman Patrick O’Dell said at the meeting.

The new facility allows for pickups for online orders. Fairway also has a retail location in Grosse Pointe Woods at 20877 Mack Ave.