One of TOMRA Sorting Food’s two primary US locations is located in West Sacramento. The company ODENBERG, which was in 2011 acquired by TOMRA Sorting, has its base in this area for 17 years. Because of the success of the company over the last years, there is a necessity for expansion. The employee base is growing rapidly, the number of customers is increasing and being part of the TOMRA group generates the need for an alternative facility.
“We looked at several options to rent a new building, we could however not find a good match for our needs”, explains Ashley Hunter, President and Sales Director Americas at TOMRA Sorting Food. “The existing building is getting too small and we want to be able to give our customers a unique customer experience when visiting us. We therefore decided to partner with Harsch. Working with them on a build to suit was the perfect solution. We are able to stay in the City and will soon have a state-of-the-art facility complete with a TOMRA Sorting Solutions Center, for the ultimate customer experience, where they can trial their own sorting solutions”, says Mr. Hunter.
TOMRA signed a 60,000 square foot lease for a 12 year term. Construction on the Riverside Corporate Centre is set to commence in August 2013, with an estimated completion date of March 2014. The building was designed by architecture firm VLMK Consultant Engineering, Portland and will be built by general contractor Brown Construction, Inc., West Sacramento. Harsch Investment Properties was also represented by Kevin Jasper of Cornish &Carey Commercial Newmark Knight Frank.
For the management of the real estate development process, TOMRA Sorting has retained the services of Michael Kelley of Kelley Commercial, a consulting firm specializing in commercial real estate development. Mr. Kelley has assisted with feasibility analyses, developer selection, design development, and negotiations with the City of West Sacramento. Mr. Kelley will continue to facilitate construction management, as well as furniture and equipment procurement, through to the completion of the project.
The TOMRA Sorting Food group also has a second important facility in the US, in Colorado, Denver. “In Denver, we also have a solutions center, offices and a production facility, to cover for the production of all machines made for the Americas.”
“The existing facility in Denver and the new one in Sacramento support the ambitious growth plans we have set for the coming years as well as provide our customers with facilities that will better meet their needs. Two great places to work and optimal locations for hosting our customers”, concludes Mr. Hunter.