Worcester business Imperial Distributors reinvests in city
As Worcester strives to grow its business base with new hotels, an expanding medical industry and courting startups, the city continues to rely upon long-time businesses, many of which started here and continue to make the region their home.
While these businesses are not the ones that always grab the headlines, they are the ones that the city relies upon year-in and year-out for its commercial and industrial base. One such business is Imperial Distributors of Worcester, which was started in the city in 1939 and recently announced that it will be moving to a new built-to-suit building at a new development off of Route 146.
The City
Remaining in Worcester was a no-brainer for Imperial CEO Michael Sleeper, who was born, raised and educated in Worcester. In addition to being an ideal location to do business out of, Worcester and the surrounding areas have become home for generations of employees, Sleeper said.
“I love Worcester I am rooted in Worcester. Both of my parents have lived in Worcester and the business was started in Worcester… It is home,” he said.
The city is also pushing to keep businesses while also seeking new business, Sleeper said, citing the ease with which business owners can work with city officials and the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce.
The space
The 325,000-square-foot facility will house distribution space, administrative offices and the company's innovation center. The building will consolidate 340 of the company's 750 jobs under one roof. Employees are currently split between the Auburn Industrial Park and an office in Worcester at 60 Webster Place, said Sleeper.
In addition to the physical building, the location is also key to Sleeper's business. The company distributes to more than 3,500 locations, shipping more than 1.3 million units each week throughout 27 states.
“Central Massachusetts is just a great place to be because of the roads networks… the access to roads is excellent,” he said.
Built-to-suit
Having a building created to the company's needs will pay dividends, Sleeper said. While the company is not building the facility, which is being handled by developer GFI Partners, having a space with huge ceilings created specifically to the company's needs will be invaluable.
The facility will be leased from GFI Partners and is expected to open in January of 2017. Financial terms of the long-term lease were not disclosed, and Sleeper expects no interruption to deliveries during the transition. Imperial will take up approximately 50 percent of the development, allowing for possible future expansion, but anchoring the development, Sleeper said.
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