International flavor and fragrance firm to open facilities in Harriman

$13.5 investment will bring 75 jobs Harriman - Takasago International Corporation has closed on what will be its new manufacturing and warehouse facilities at 114 Commerce Drive in Harriman, according to the Orange County Partnership. Takasago is a leading global company that has been in business since 1920. The company manufactures and sells flavors and fragrances for some of the world’s most successful food, beverage, fine fragrance and household and personal care products. The project will bring an investment of $13.5 million over the next five years and begin with 75 jobs growing to 100 in the near future. The location takes advantage of the availability of an existing 130,000-square-foot building formerly occupied by Manhattan Beer Distributors with room for a 36,500-square-foot expansion. According to Takasago, the company began looking at new locations to consolidate operations in 2006 and has been trying to stay within a 15-mile radius of its existing plants to accommodate their current employees. Morris Goldberg, vice president of McBride Corporate Real Estate’s Orange County office in cooperation with John D’Amato and David Yao of McBride’s New Jersey office, introduced Takasago officials to the Harriman site. “We first showed the Commerce Drive site to Takasago in 2007, and they recognized that it would be a prime location in terms of distribution and an opportunity for them to consolidate their manufacturing and warehousing under one roof,” McBride said. “However, initially, they thought it was too long a commute for their existing workforce and too remote from the company headquarters in Rockleigh, N.J. We worked with the Orange County Partnership team and Empire State Development to secure Empire Zone designation and certification as a Regionally Significant Project just prior to that program’s closing. This financial package was what closed the deal and brought them to Orange County.” McBride Corporate Real Estate, Harriman Mayor Stephen Welle along with Harriman municipal leaders took full advantage of the available economic development professionals and programs to move this project to a close, according to the press release from Orange County Partnership President Maureen Halahan announcing the deal.