Worcester-based Rand-Whitney, a corrugated packaging manufacturer owned by the Kraft Group, is expanding its Worcester facility by adding 45,000-square feet to its current headquarters at 1 Agrand St. Not including this facility, the company will have added nearly 200,000-square feet to its operations since 2016 with an expansion in Rhode Island and new facility in New Hampshire. CEO Nicholas Smith answered some of the WBJ’s questions about the planned expansion.
What will the new facility be used for?
The new building will be used for warehousing, shipping and receiving.
How many employees work at the Worcester location?
This is our corporate headquarters, and this location employs 170 people.
Does the expansion come with a growth in employees?
This building expansion will provide us the opportunity to add additional equipment in our manufacturing facility. With the ability to expand our manufacturing volume and customer base, we anticipate a growth in the number of employees at Rand-Whitney.
What was the motive behind the expansion?
We had reached our maximum capacity in our plant. We wanted the ability to add new equipment, expand our shipping capabilities and to expand our footprint.
Why did the company choose to expand in Worcester?
Our headquarters are located in Worcester. We have been here since 1965. It is important to ownership to continue the positive relationship we’ve enjoyed with the Worcester community. Both geographically and strategically this is a great location for us.
The company has added almost 200,000 square feet of space since 2016, not including this facility. What is behind this recent growth? In order to be competitive in our industry, you have to be willing to invest in your operations. This requires the addition of new equipment and larger buildings.
How has the Kraft family helped grow the business?
The Kraft family continues to be passionate about the corrugated industry. They are committed to Rand-Whitney remaining competitive.
Over the course of the last 10 years, they have acquired eight companies and invested heavily in operations. In today’s highly competitive market, Rand-Whitney continues to expand with key investments, opportunistic acquisitions and world-class customer service.
