Homebuilders continue to be busy in several Dakota County communities.

Lakeville has recorded 274 building permits through the end of September, according to the latest Keystone Report for the Builders Association of the Twin Cities. The total was the second-largest in the metro area, just behind Woodbury, which recorded 275. Lakeville's total for the same period a year ago was 171.

Other permit numbers for this year's nine-month period showed Apple Valley with 43, Burnsville with four, Eagan with 85, Farmington with 106, Hastings with 19, Inver Grove Heights with 54, Mendota Heights with four and Rosemount with 62.

Burnsville food company sold

United Natural Foods Inc., a Providence, R.I. distributor of organic and specialty foods to grocers, recently bought Burnsville-based Trudeau Foods. Terms of the sale by a Chicago private equity firm were not disclosed.

Trudeau serves 600 grocers and wholesalers in Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The Burnsville business will operate as a subsidiary of United Natural Foods.

Theme for chamber program

"This is Not Your Grandfather's Retail Economy" is the subject of a luncheon program Wednesday hosted by the Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Bruce Nustad, president of the Minnesota Retailers Association, will speak on the topic, which will address the multiplier effect of consumer spending and how it affects local economies, including creating jobs.

Chamber President Ed Kearney noted that it's an especially timely topic given large new retail developments like the Paragon Outlet Partners outlet mall under construction in Eagan. He also noted that Apple Valley has a high concentration of large national retail chains.

The program costs $15 and is open to nonmembers. Social time is 11:30 a.m. to noon, followed by lunch and the speaker until 1 p.m. It will be held at LaGrand Conference Center at the GrandStay Hotel in Apple Valley.

R.S.V.P. to kristy@applevalleychamber.com or call 952-432-8422.

Apple Valley building sold

An 8,500-square-foot medical office building at 14605 Glazier Av. in Apple Valley recently changed hands.

The property was purchased for $1.9 million by a private investor from Otsego from Karl and Carol Biewald of Rosemount, according to Dakota County property records.

The price for the property, which was built in 1990, represented a premium over its most recent taxable value of about $1.38 million, according to property records.

Send your Dakota County business news to susan.feyder@startribune.com.

Susan Feyder • 952-746-3282