Campbell Soup Company kicked off the grand opening celebration of its Campbell Employee Center, an 80,000-square foot addition to the company’s World Headquarters, earlier this month.
Against the backdrop of a glass entrance complete with a signature red wall and iconic “Campbell’s” logo, Campbell Soup Company executives, along with hundreds of community members and state and local leaders, including New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno, Camden Mayor Dana Redd and Camden County Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli, Jr., cheered the expansion, which reflects Campbell’s longstanding commitment to Camden, N.J., one of the nation’s poorest cities and Campbell’s home since 1869.
“The completion of this building is the result of a partnership between Campbell, the State of New Jersey, Camden County and the city of Camden,” said Campbell’s President and CEO Douglas Conant. “It is a testament to the years of hard work by teams of people committed to a common purpose and determined to overcome whatever obstacles that may stand in the way. We are proud to call Camden home. We have deep roots here, not just on this campus, but throughout the city and the entire region. Campbell remains fully committed to the city and its neighborhoods.”
Designed by Philadelphia-based architects KlingStubbins, the Campbell Employee Center is part of a broader effort that includes plans for a 100-acre office park in Camden’s Gateway District. Campbell plans to invest up to $93 million in the project, which includes its new building, ongoing enhancements to its existing facilities and 40-acre campus, and the acquisition of land for future development. The state, county and city have invested approximately $23 million in the area’s infrastructure to improve roads, as well as water and sewer upgrades.
“I am proud that Campbell Soup Company has called New Jersey home for almost 150 years. This project demonstrates the importance of public-private partnerships,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno. “Governor Christie and I are continuing to focus on making New Jersey a home for growth by enhancing New Jersey’s business climate, streamlining our regulatory process and advancing pro-business initiatives.”
With the completion of the new building, Campbell’s Camden facilities include approximately 750,000 square feet of office, research and development and training space. Features of the new building include:
-A state-of-the-art café with a custom soup bar as the centerpiece; the soup bar will serve up to 11 different soups each day;
-An exhibition hall serves as the signature of the building with soaring 38-foot floor-to-ceiling windows and the iconic “Campbell’s” logo;
-An open-air courtyard for employees, as well as special company and community events. The courtyard features a vegetable and flower garden designed by the Camden Children’s Garden;
-An innovative training and development center called Campbell University;
§ A fully-equipped fitness center for current and retired employees;
-A 2,600 square-foot company store.
The new building is designed to be LEED-certified and includes an energy efficient HVAC system along with water conservation and daylight harvesting features.
The Campbell Employee Center will conserve electricity, efficiently maintain the building’s temperature and provide daylight and outdoor views from 90% of the new space. Its sustainable features include:
-A roof that reflects the sunlight’s heat and outdoor lighting that reduces light pollution
-The building is designed to reduce the company’s water usage by 45%
-All wood products used in the building have earned forestry sustainability certification. Carpeting, countertops and other features are made from recycled materials
-The company will offer only reusable containers in its café, and all meals will be served on china and silverware to eliminate waste from disposable plates and utensils
The expansion is designed to help Campbell attract, retain and develop the best talent in the food industry.
“This building is a tangible demonstration of our commitment to what we call the Campbell Promise, which states that Campbell values people, and in turn, people value Campbell,” Conant said.
Campbell is the longest-standing corporate tenant in the city and the only Fortune 500 Company headquartered in Camden. The Campbell Soup Foundation has contributed more than $100 million to Camden and other area nonprofit organizations over the last 50 years.
“Campbell has been an anchor institution in the city of Camden for 141 years,” Mayor Dana Redd said. “This expansion project truly demonstrates Campbell Soup Company’s commitment to Camden’s revitalization efforts and their pledge to the community. This wonderful new building also sends a clear message that Camden has, is, and will continue to be open for business. I applaud Campbell for its unwavering commitment to our great city, I wish them continued success, and I hope that they will be able to call Camden home for years to come.”
The project marks the first major development to Campbell’s World Headquarters since the construction of the Dr. John T. Dorrance Culinary Center in 2003.
The Settlement Music School Children’s Choir provided entertainment for the guests in attendance. The choir, which included children from age 6 through 12, sang several songs. Following the program, guests enjoyed a reception catered by Campbell’s chefs, Sodexo chefs and two Camden culinary schools that Campbell supports, RESPOND and Cathedral Kitchen. Many of the dishes were prepared with “Campbell’s” soup, broths, sauces and beverages.
