Maple Leaf Farms Cuts Ribbon on New World HQ
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Daniel [email protected]
Maple Leaf Farms unveiled its new $4 million world headquarters during a ribbon-cutting ceremony and dedication that featured a cooking demonstration by celebrity chef Martin Yan.
The new world headquarters at 101 E. Church St., Leesburg, maintained the school’s structure but was extensively renovated both inside and out with an open concept and sustainability in mind.
Maple Leaf Farms also used Thursday’s event to show how focused it is on expanding international markets, with an eye on Asia.
Maple Leaf currently produces half of the 26 millions ducks sold in North America.
The company is looking to expand its base in places like China where 4 billion ducks are consumed each year.
Maple Leaf has sold its finished duck products in China for 20 years.
INDUX is Maple Leaf’s venture to grow its brand overseas by selling breeding stock and offering support services to foreign markets.
At home, the new headquarters will house about 85 personnel with room to grow.
Its rural Milford plant will still be its production site.
Co-President Scott Tucker said with Leesburg moving its elementary school to a new facility, it came at a good time when Maple Leaf was looking to expand.
Tucker said the idea of sustainability is not just idle talk by Maple Leaf.
“It’s a vital part for companies to be sustainable,” said Tucker. “It was important for us to use recycled building materials as well as an existing building.”
Tucker said it’s important to be cognizant of the environment and the company headquarter’s surroundings.
“We live here,” said Tucker. “We want to be good neighbors.”
Tucker also noted that the move should help the town of Leesburg.
Some of the many features of the new headquarters include a wall of history for the company that includes an interactive, touch-screen monitor as well as a company store.
The store features Maple Leaf products including bedding.
The store is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.
Research and Development has an expanded area to work, and the new demonstration kitchen area was put to good use by Chef Yan.
Yan put on a 20-minute cooking demonstration where he entertained the crowd with his humor while also showing off several duck-based recipes.
“I consider it an honor to be here today,” said Yan. “I am honored to be associated with Maple Leaf Farms.”
He said the products Maple Leaf sells are known in China for their high quality and safety.
The company was founded in 1958 by Donald Wentzel. After Wentzel died in 1968, Terry Tucker, Wetzel’s son-in-law, took over.
Today, Tucker serves as CEO while his sons Scott and John Tucker serve as co-presidents.
During Thursday afternoon’s ribbon cutting, John said the new headquarters were dedicated to both his father and grandfather.
While showing off its new facility, Maple Leaf also gave away some money Thursday afternoon.
The Leesburg Lions Club was presented with a check for a total of $50,000.
The gift will come in $10,000 increments over the next five years.
The Leesburg Lions maintain a ball field located behind the facility. A representative with Maple Leaf said there are no plans in the near future to expand, but if the company did so and needed to take over the land where the ball fields are at, Maple Leaf wanted the Lions Club to have a nest egg to purchase new fields.
Leesburg Elementary, a partner in education with Maple Leaf, received $5,000 from Maple Leaf.
The money will go to help fund the school’s Guided Reading program.
The new facility bares no real resemblance to the former school with the exception of the school’s gym, which remains intact sans a paint job and some touching up.
It will be used for convocations and gatherings, and Thursday was used for a slide show and location for the company’s dedication.
Built with an open concept, Maple Leaf Farms’ new world headquarters doesn’t have a lot of walled-off conference rooms and cuticles.
It also includes a courtyard and indoor waterfall.
The transformation was relatively quick as Maple Leaf didn’t take over the building until April.
Besides its plants in Indiana, the company also has facilities in Wisconsin, Michigan and California.
About 750 people are employed worldwide by Maple Leaf.
“We are extremely proud of our new world headquarters and the significant milestone it represents for our growing company,” said John Tucker. “It is a tribute to the strong foundation our father and grandfather built for our business and a testimony to the foresight they had in positioning Maple Leaf Farms as a global leader in the duck industry.”
For those who frequented the former Maple Leaf Grille in Warsaw, Tucker said that this venture is the company’s focus and that the restaurant, located on North Detroit Street in Warsaw, remains for sale with no plans to open it back up in any incarnation.
For more information on Maple Leaf Farms, visit www.mapleleaffarms.com[[In-content Ad]]
Maple Leaf Farms unveiled its new $4 million world headquarters during a ribbon-cutting ceremony and dedication that featured a cooking demonstration by celebrity chef Martin Yan.
The new world headquarters at 101 E. Church St., Leesburg, maintained the school’s structure but was extensively renovated both inside and out with an open concept and sustainability in mind.
Maple Leaf Farms also used Thursday’s event to show how focused it is on expanding international markets, with an eye on Asia.
Maple Leaf currently produces half of the 26 millions ducks sold in North America.
The company is looking to expand its base in places like China where 4 billion ducks are consumed each year.
Maple Leaf has sold its finished duck products in China for 20 years.
INDUX is Maple Leaf’s venture to grow its brand overseas by selling breeding stock and offering support services to foreign markets.
At home, the new headquarters will house about 85 personnel with room to grow.
Its rural Milford plant will still be its production site.
Co-President Scott Tucker said with Leesburg moving its elementary school to a new facility, it came at a good time when Maple Leaf was looking to expand.
Tucker said the idea of sustainability is not just idle talk by Maple Leaf.
“It’s a vital part for companies to be sustainable,” said Tucker. “It was important for us to use recycled building materials as well as an existing building.”
Tucker said it’s important to be cognizant of the environment and the company headquarter’s surroundings.
“We live here,” said Tucker. “We want to be good neighbors.”
Tucker also noted that the move should help the town of Leesburg.
Some of the many features of the new headquarters include a wall of history for the company that includes an interactive, touch-screen monitor as well as a company store.
The store features Maple Leaf products including bedding.
The store is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.
Research and Development has an expanded area to work, and the new demonstration kitchen area was put to good use by Chef Yan.
Yan put on a 20-minute cooking demonstration where he entertained the crowd with his humor while also showing off several duck-based recipes.
“I consider it an honor to be here today,” said Yan. “I am honored to be associated with Maple Leaf Farms.”
He said the products Maple Leaf sells are known in China for their high quality and safety.
The company was founded in 1958 by Donald Wentzel. After Wentzel died in 1968, Terry Tucker, Wetzel’s son-in-law, took over.
Today, Tucker serves as CEO while his sons Scott and John Tucker serve as co-presidents.
During Thursday afternoon’s ribbon cutting, John said the new headquarters were dedicated to both his father and grandfather.
While showing off its new facility, Maple Leaf also gave away some money Thursday afternoon.
The Leesburg Lions Club was presented with a check for a total of $50,000.
The gift will come in $10,000 increments over the next five years.
The Leesburg Lions maintain a ball field located behind the facility. A representative with Maple Leaf said there are no plans in the near future to expand, but if the company did so and needed to take over the land where the ball fields are at, Maple Leaf wanted the Lions Club to have a nest egg to purchase new fields.
Leesburg Elementary, a partner in education with Maple Leaf, received $5,000 from Maple Leaf.
The money will go to help fund the school’s Guided Reading program.
The new facility bares no real resemblance to the former school with the exception of the school’s gym, which remains intact sans a paint job and some touching up.
It will be used for convocations and gatherings, and Thursday was used for a slide show and location for the company’s dedication.
Built with an open concept, Maple Leaf Farms’ new world headquarters doesn’t have a lot of walled-off conference rooms and cuticles.
It also includes a courtyard and indoor waterfall.
The transformation was relatively quick as Maple Leaf didn’t take over the building until April.
Besides its plants in Indiana, the company also has facilities in Wisconsin, Michigan and California.
About 750 people are employed worldwide by Maple Leaf.
“We are extremely proud of our new world headquarters and the significant milestone it represents for our growing company,” said John Tucker. “It is a tribute to the strong foundation our father and grandfather built for our business and a testimony to the foresight they had in positioning Maple Leaf Farms as a global leader in the duck industry.”
For those who frequented the former Maple Leaf Grille in Warsaw, Tucker said that this venture is the company’s focus and that the restaurant, located on North Detroit Street in Warsaw, remains for sale with no plans to open it back up in any incarnation.
For more information on Maple Leaf Farms, visit www.mapleleaffarms.com[[In-content Ad]]
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