Rapidly growing Big Spoon Roasters is moving its headquarters and production facility from Durham to Hillsborough. The local small-batch nut butter and snack bar maker is currently located at 4517 Hillsborough Road, Suite 103-B in Durham in a leased space that the company has already expanded in three times since 2013. Now, due to continued steady growth, the company is leasing a 20,125 square foot space on 2.48 acres at 500 Meadowlands Drive in Hillsborough so that it can grow even more. Pickett Sprouse Commercial Real Estate brokers Emilee Collins and Mark O’Neal represented property owners and local developers Jim Parker and George Horton in the transaction.
A larger space with plenty of room for additional growth is needed because Big Spoon’s values-driven, innovative approach to American pantry staples continues to resonate with more and more people. Big Spoon was recently elevated from a Regional to a Global brand by Whole Foods Market, which has introduced the company’s products into the Southwest and Midwest regions. Big Spoon has also recently grown distribution to 100 more REI retail locations and added hundreds of new independent wholesale customers, including many retail locations in Europe.
“We count Pickett Sprouse among the great team of commercial real estate and construction pros that helped us find the perfect building for our unique business needs,” said Big Spoon Roasters Co-Founder & President Mark Overbay. “This includes a laboratory-clean food production space, climate-controlled storage, offices with room to grow, a new team member wellness space, more spacious locker and changing areas, a shipping area with multiple loading docks for trucks, and access to major roadways.”
The new location is in close proximity to I-85, I-40, and NC Hwy 70. Big Spoon initially plans to occupy 16,500 square feet of the building and will expand to the remainder over the next two to three years.
“Property owners Jim Parker and George Horton had this ideal site and made it available to Big Spoon because they knew it would be a perfect match for the company’s needs and goals,” said Emilee Collins. “Big Spoon’s steady growth has created a need for more square footage in each area of their business, from production and office space to warehouse, shipping, and employee relations. This larger facility offers them an adaptable floor plan well-suited for creating their ideal production operation, as well as areas to set up multi-tiered racking systems for storage. It truly is exactly what they needed.”
In addition to those benefits, the location offers space to create a showroom for customers and partners. The site has also already been approved for the construction of an additional 10,000 square feet on the end of the building when the time comes that it is needed in the future.
“We’ve always had a vision for Big Spoon Roasters that is different from that of a typical food company,” said Big Spoon Roasters Co-Founder and COO Megan Overbay. “Whereas an increasing number of food businesses are outsourcing production to save money and effort, we are committed to our small-batch, artisan process, even as we grow. This commitment to keeping everything in-house not only ensures the best quality but also creates more sustainable jobs in our community.”
Big Spoon Roasters expects to open in its new space in early August.