Meyer Adding 2 Warehouses to Facility

Article Last Updated: Wednesday, Aug 17, 2005 - 12:16:56 am PDT

Meyer Adding 2 Warehouses to Facility
By Christine Cubé

FAIRFIELD - Cookware distribution giant Meyer Corp. is expanding its business operation in Solano Business Park, adding two new warehouses to its shipping facility there.

Meyer Corp. already owns the site for its planned expansion, but it must tread lightly moving forward as the new space involves expanding on and near wetlands.

"We have been well aware of those issues," said Jenny Bledsoe, vice president of human resources and consumer relations for Meyer Corporation U.S. "We've been working closely with the appropriate agencies as we're making these plans to make sure we're in compliance with local regulations."

Vallejo-based Meyer Corp. specializes in distributing range-top cookware. Its products also include bakeware, cutlery, kitchen tools and gadgets, largely manufactured in affiliate factories in Thailand, Italy and China.

In Fairfield, the company plans to build two separate warehouses - roughly 150,000 square feet and 300,000 square feet - to add to its 363,000-square-foot shipping center at the business park. At a later date, the company may also construct a new office building, Bledsoe said.

Despite the new improvements and larger campus in Fairfield, Bledsoe said the corporate headquarters will remain in Vallejo.

Sandy Person, vice president of the Solano EDC, said it's companies like Meyer Corp. that make the county a desirable location for expanding businesses.

"They grow and expand in Solano County," Person said. "Businesses like Meyer buy enough land to accommodate growth."

Meyer Corp. already is growing in numbers.

So far this year, the company has added 60 employees to its operations in Fairfield and Vallejo. It has approximately 120 employees in each location.

In addition to its corporate office, Meyer Corp. has warehousing operations in Vallejo, where the company performs shipping, including Web site and direct-to-consumer shipping.

In Fairfield, the warehouse largely takes care of bulk shipping, customer service and planning and logistics.

The company now is finalizing development plans for an official submission to the city of Fairfield.

Reach Christine Cubé at 427-6934 or ccube@dailyrepublic.net.

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