Executives at Bel Brands USA, the maker of cheese products under the Kaukauna, Merkt’s, Babybel and The Laughing Cow brands, have decided that Chicago is the place to be, as the firm plans to move from Elk Grove Village to a 27,200-square-foot space at 30 S. Wacker Drive this spring.
Dan Maslauski and Brian Chernett of Jones Lang LaSalle represented Bel Brands in the long-term transaction through both a sublease from CIT Capital USA, Inc., and a direct lease from Tishman Speyer Properties.
Bel Brands USA moved its corporate headquarters in 2006 from Little Chute, Wis., to a 15,000-square-foot space at 25 Northwest Point Boulevard in Elk Grove Village. Since then, the company has almost doubled sales and significantly increased its corporate and manufacturing workforce to sustain the tremendous growth.
Bel Brands USA’s net sales are approximately $300 million annually, and increased 25% in 2010 compared to 2009. The Laughing Cow product line experienced a 34 percent increase in volume sold and Mini Babybel volume increased by 26 percent in 2010 retail grocery sales.
Bel Brands USA now has nearly 600 employees in the U.S. including 80 based at the corporate headquarters.
Kyle Kamin and Rachel Waymire of CB Richard Ellis represented CIT Capital USA, Inc., and Vicki Noonan and Eric Meyers represented Tishman Speyer Properties in the transaction.
