Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. outlined its plans for continued growth in Vermont. GMCR currently operates from multiple locations in Essex, Waterbury and Williston, Vt. and is planning for growth in all three communities as well as for new locations in South Burlington.
"As a proud and long-time corporate citizen of Vermont, we are always pleased to share news of our continued expansion. Vermont has instilled in GMCR many of the values that have guided our Company from a small coffee retailer on the Waitsfield village green to one reinventing how North America prepares coffee and other beverages both at home and away from home," said Lawrence J. Blanford, president and CEO of GMCR in a prepared statement. "As we look to support the continued growth in our business, we expect to lease additional office space, build-out new facilities and hire new employees in multiple communities across Vermont. With these expansion plans, we could increase our Vermont employee base by 30 percent over the next 12 to 18 months."
As of the end of its third quarter fiscal 2011 on June 25, 2011, GMCR employed 4,760 people in North America, roughly 30 percent of whom worked in Vermont. GMCR also operates locations in Reading, Wakefield and Woburn, Massachusetts; Castroville, California; Knoxville, Tennessee; Sumner, Washington; Toronto, Ontario; and, Montreal, Quebec. As previously disclosed, GMCR intends to add two additional manufacturing and production facilities in the U.S. in its fiscal year 2012 and work toward site selection for those locations continues.
The company outlined its expansion in Vermont by community as follows:
Waterbury
In Waterbury, where GMCR currently occupies 12 separate buildings, the company recently completed a variety of facility- and infrastructure-related projects including:
• A 75,000-square-foot expansion to the company's existing manufacturing and production facility, designed to accommodate increased packaging capabilities, expand its current coffee tasting and quality control lab and provide office space for the company's specialty coffee business unit. GMCR accelerated planned employee moves into the space after roughly 150 workers were displaced following flood-related damage in Waterbury.
• The construction of a private road connecting its Pilgrim Park and Demeritt Place campuses, making for more efficient transportation between locations, and relieving production-related traffic on Main Street. Construction on the road began in fall 2010 in cooperation with the Town and Village of Waterbury, and the road opened for use in mid-summer. The private road provides a direct link between GMCR's offices on the east side of Waterbury and the manufacturing and production facility, distribution center, and offices located in Pilgrim Park so that employees and company-related traffic, including trucks, can travel between these locations without accessing the town's retail district. Construction of the private road was funded by GMCR. The company also will maintain the road for the intended use of GMCR employees, GMCR truck traffic and other employees of businesses located in Pilgrim Park.
• The occupation of a 35,000 square foot structure on 53 acres purchased in Waterbury Center. GMCR expects to renovate the existing facility, which will house its new beverage research and development efforts as well as other support functions.
Scott McCreary, president of GMCR's specialty coffee business unit, commented, "We are fortunate for the opportunity to grow our presence in our ‘home town' of Waterbury. We see the expansion as a positive for the community as we are creating jobs, and through the development of the private road, giving back to the community by reducing Main Street traffic flow and congestion."
In Essex, GMCR is taking new space and planning a major capacity expansion at its existing production facility. The expanded facility will accommodate new coffee roasting, grinding, flavoring, and packaging capacity.
• By the fall of 2012, the company expects to occupy the building at 5 New England Drive, currently occupied by Gardner Supply, which will be relocating.
• Approximately 240,000 square feet will be added to the company's current location at 30 Gauthier Drive connecting the two existing buildings. Construction on the addition commenced in October 2011 and is expected to be completed in the summer of 2012.
Said McCreary, "We are pleased to be able to continue our commitment to being an employer of choice in all our communities, providing continued employment growth, career opportunities and a work place that looks to continue to change how the world views business.
GMCR's growth has launched it into a new community in the South Burlington area, with the company preparing to occupy leased space and/or buildings in South Burlington's Technology Park during 2012 including:
• 53,500 square feet of office space at 124 Technology Park Way, a new Class A commercial building where it intends to accommodate certain general and administrative functions including finance, human resources and corporate social responsibility functions. Still in planning/architectural stages, the shell of the structure is LEED™ certified and GMCR aims to have the space LEED Gold certified upon completion of the renovation.
• 8,632 square feet in an existing building at 30 Community Drive where the company will build out a data center. Construction is expected to be fitted within the original structure.
• 20,000 square feet of office space over three floors at 55 Community Drive, an existing LEED certified Class A building.
Finally, GMCR also continues to grow its presence in Williston:
• At 687 Marshall Avenue, GMCR is converting a portion of its existing 228,000 square feet of commercial space to accommodate additional packaging capabilities. At the same time, the company is leasing additional space in the area for its kitting and special packing capabilities.
