Leading global floral company FTD Companies, Inc. is relocating its world headquarters to Chicago. FTD has been based in Downers Grove for 31 years and the move downtown is designed to strengthen the company’s position as the world’s leading floral innovator.
“Chicago is the best city in the world for a company that wants to expand its footprint, create new jobs and invest in the future,” Chicago Mayor Emanuel said. “I commend FTD for choosing to relocate its global headquarters to Chicago and put down roots in our great city. More companies have relocated their headquarters to Chicago than to any other American city every year for the last five years, and we are now proud to be home to FTD as well.”
The new headquarters will occupy 50,000 square feet at 1 N. Dearborn and give the company access to Chicago’s top talent across many business segments. FTD plans to hire 50 new professionals in 2018 and will start to relocate some of its Downers Grove team to the new office, which can accommodate over 250 team members. The move will be concluded by the summer of 2018.
“Our relocation to the heart of Chicago’s Tech Triangle represents more than just a new headquarters for us,” said FTD president and CEO John Walden. “It is an important start to a multi-pronged strategic plan to reclaim our 108-year heritage as the world’s floral innovator and leader. The move will enable us to develop the kind of technology sophistication and culture that will drive the creation of products, brands and technology-driven services our customers love.”
FTD was founded over 100 years ago in 1910, when 13 florists joined together to send floral orders across the U.S. by telegraph. FTD has continued to use that approach to technical innovation to lead the floral industry, pioneering same-day flowery delivery to anywhere in the country and the move to online sales nearly 25 years ago. The brand’s iconic Mercury Man logo is displayed in approximately 35,000 floral shops in nearly 125 countries.
