The Kraft Heinz Company recently announced that it will be moving its Chicago-based co-headquarter location in Northfield, Illinois, to downtown Chicago in early 2016. The company signed a long-term lease with Piedmont Office Realty Trust, through 2029, at the Aon Center, located at 200 East Randolph Street.
Michael Mullen, SVP of Corporate & Government Affairs at The Kraft Heinz Company, said their new progressive open-office space will occupy five floors- 170,000 square feet.
“The Kraft Heinz Company saw an immediate opportunity to firmly establish our dynamic new culture, based on meritocracy, speed, efficiency and collaboration, in a new downtown Chicago open-office space to support our next chapter of growth while further strengthening our world-leading brands,” Mullen said.
According to Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Ned Franke and Steve Holmberg of Cushman & Wakefield represented the tenant in the transaction. Steve Smith and Mark Georgas of JLL, along with Tom Prescott and Alex Valente of Piedmont, facilitated negotiations on behalf of the owner.
“We are pleased to be able to accommodate the new Chicago home of the recently combined Kraft Heinz brands, a multi-billion dollar corporation, and are confident they will benefit from the building’s superior amenities and spectacular views of the city, Lake Michigan and Millennium Park,” said Tom Prescott, Executive Vice President – Midwest Region for Piedmont.
Mullen said this move will return the Kraft brand and business to its entrepreneurial roots in Chicago where founder J.L. Kraft first began selling cheese to local merchants in 1903.
“The Kraft Heinz Company is proud of its rich history in the Chicago area and the Company remains committed to our co-headquarters of Pittsburgh and Chicago,” Mullen added.
