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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Ferris Coffee & Nut Company Expands Operations In Grand Rapids, Michigan

12/20/2016
Ferris Coffee & Nut Company purchased the American Seating building and property located at 601 7th Street NW in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The move satisfies the company's need for expanded manufacturing space while continuing its long history as a staple of the city's west side.

The American Seating building spans 165,000 square feet of manufacturing and office space across nine acres with onsite parking for employees. Ferris Coffee & Nut Co. currently operates from two separate facilities: a distribution center located at 4050 Roger B. Chaffee Blvd in Wyoming, Michigan, and the company's headquarters, manufacturing, and retail space at 227 Winter Avenue NW in Grand Rapids.

According to company officials, as one of Michigan's leading coffee roasters and a national provider of gourmet roasted nuts, Ferris has experienced double digit year-over-year growth and quickly recognized the need for expansion to meet growing local and national interest.

"Every decision we make is grounded in an intense care for our customers, our employees, and our community," said John VanTongeren, President & Owner of Ferris Coffee & Nut Co. "The decision to move our operation to the much larger American Seating building on the west side allows us to bring all of our employees under one roof, better serve our customers, and enables our team to reinvest in long-term, sustainable development in the city that we have always called home."

The company said it plans to renovate the new space to further position its growth within the booming specialty food and beverage industries. The larger facility poises the manufacturer to better handle its food service operations while meeting rigorous food safety standards and industry best practices.

"The building has incredible integrity and is in a prime location," said VanTongeren. "We've been doing business on this side of town for 93 years, and this purchase allows us to continue the momentum we've made since 1924 while providing our team with the space we need to perform at our very best."

Ferris Coffee & Nut's retail store and coffee shop will remain at the Winter Avenue location as the company transitions into the new facility over the next 12 months. Future plans for the existing retail store and coffee shop are undetermined, though the intent is to maintain a strong retail presence on the city's west side, in addition to the company's downtown coffee shop at 40 Pearl St NW., officials said.

"Earlier this year, American Seating made the decision to put this facility on the market as we began the process of consolidating our manufacturing activities under one roof to optimize our operational efficiencies across all aspects of our business," said Tom Bush, President and Chief Operating Officer at American Seating. "We have worked closely with the Ferris Coffee leadership team throughout the sales process and look forward to having them as new neighbors."

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