A vending company that caters to public schools across Virginia and North Carolina is moving into Suffolk.

Dennis Foods Inc., now located in Cavalier Industrial Park in Chesapeake, will begin construction on a 22,000-square-foot regional operations center on five acres in Suffolk Industrial Park in coming months, said Tom O’Grady, the city’s director of economic development.

The $1.5 million facility, slated to open in September 2006, will create 18 new jobs.

Dennis Foods has more than 2,000 snack and beverage vending machines

company in public schools in the two states.

The industrial park’s easy access to major highways in Virginia and North Carolina was a big selling point for the company, said Kristen Dennis, the company’s vice president.

&uot;This location is convenient…and will allow our drivers to quickly serve all of our customers in Hampton Roads and North Carolina.&uot;

allison.williams@suffolknewsherald.com