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GREENSBORO — Gov. Bev Perdue announced a job expansion today at LF USA, a subsidary of Li & Fung Ltd, a Hong Kong-based multinational group with offices on Grandover Parkway.

Local officials say LF USA quietly located here late last year and has already hired about 145 workers. It expects to add 55 more by the end of the year.

According to its website, Li & Fung is recognized as the world’s leader in consumer goods design, development, sourcing and distribution.

The company, which has about 27,000 employes worldwide, manages the supply chain for retailers and brands around the world. It has about 240 offices and distribution centers in the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia.

Company officials said LF USA typically doubles in size every three to four years.

All but 20 of the initial hires were local; the other workers transfered from LF USA’s office in New York.

There are no incentives involved in the expansion, local officials said, adding that Greensboro beat out several other cities, including Orlando, Nashville and Baltimore.

Perdue made her announcement at 4620 Grandover Parkway, the location of LF USA.

The Greensboro operation is the company’s second in the U.S.

Melvin “Skip” Alston, chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners, and Mayor Pro Tem Yvonne Johnson welcomed the company to the area. But neither knew much about the company or its expansion plans before today.

“I am trying to find some facts about it myself,” Alston said this morning. “We are going to be talking about some jobs. They asked me to treat it confidentially.”

Johnson said, “I am fixing to do my own research.”

Contact Donald W. Patterson at 373-7027 or don.patterson@news-record.com