About Us

Food Facility Engineering's history began in 1954 when Food Industry Research and Engineering (FIRE) opened business. FIRE preformed several research projects and audits for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as well as specializing in the design of controlled atmosphere storage and packing facilities, providing valuable background for advanced technical design of distribution storage and processing plant design.

In the mid 70's, FIRE was sold and a few of the FIRE principles formed Food Plant Engineering (FPE). FPE specialized in state-of-the-art distribution centers and processing facilities and developed numerous design methods, technologies and innovations sought by the food industry.

Due to Food Plant Engineering Owner retirements in mid-1999, the intellectual rights of FPE were licensed to the remaining principals, who then formed Food Facility Engineering, Inc. (FFE), an employee-owned corporation. FFE continues to be a leader in providing state-of-the-art concepts and designs for industrial engineering, food processing facilities and distribution centers. The majority of our work is providing comprehensive design and consulting for dry and perishable distribution centers (e.g. ASRS, dry grocery, general merchandise, health and beauty care items, produce, banana, meat, dairy, deli, seafood, floral, frozen food, ice cream, ect), as well as complex food processing facilities. Some of these food production facilities include dairies, bakeries, commissaries, juice extraction, beverage bottling, fish, poultry, meat and ice manufacturing plants.

Today, after designing hundreds of projects, the personnel of Food Facility Engineering can offer clients single source, total responsibility for stand-alone planning, engineering and construction project management or, in concert with our strategic partners, full turnkey design/construction services. Capabilities include

  • Industrial Engineering
  • Material Handling Design
  • Process Engineering
  • Architectural Design
  • Structural Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Construction Management
  • Refrigeration Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Fire Protection Design
  • Cold Storage Design
  • Refrigeration/Process Controls Design

Food Facility Engineering serves clients throughout the US and different parts of the world, from our home office in Yakima, Washington. The quality of life in the Yakima Valley has significantly contributed to the long tenure of our employees and that is why Yakima has been the preferred location for our group since the 1950's. Food Facility Engineering is able to handle both large and small projects ranging from several thousand dollars to over one hundred million dollars. Our expertise and versatility are apparent because the projects our engineers have undertaken and completed both simple and complex have resulted in satisfied clients who operate cost-effective facilities, many of which are industry standards. Our integrity is demonstrated by our many clients who continue to rely on us project after project.