CENTRALIA, WASH. — A new 150,000-square-foot manufacturing facility that eventually will supply bread to 1,600 Subway restaurants in the Northwest region has opened. The $25 million plant opened in August and has been providing bread to Subway since December.

Prior to the new facility opening, bread for Subway restaurants in the Northwest region was provided by three facilities, located in Arizona, central California and Minnesota.

Katey Stine, director of purchasing for the Independent Purchasing Cooperative for Subway franchisees, said the opening is part of Subway’s larger bread strategy of increasing quality by adding capacity and locating production sites closer to Subway restaurants.

The facility, which is operated by Millard Refrigerated Services, is expected to employ 80.