Open for Business

As long as Fairfield has been in existence, raising or producing food of one sort or another has played a major part in the economic well-being of the area. Even today, well over a century since the land was first settled by pioneers, ranches, pastures, farms of every sort and size, orchards, even vineyards dot the landscape just a few miles outside of the city center. So should it come as any surprise that in the 21st century Fairfield is emerging as a center for a new breed of food manufacturing companies?

Some of the companies that are making Fairfield their new home come from as close as Sonoma County; another has its headquarters in Japan. Some chose to settle in this area because of financial incentives, such as lower rental and building costs, or the tax structure in a city and county that are known for being accommodating to business. For some it is a transportation issue, since there is both rail service and a comprehensive highway system. And there is the proximity to the raw materials they require, a critical issue when it comes to virtually any manufacturing operation, but even more so when the product is food-related.

"Fairfield is bisected by Interstates 80 and 680 and Highway 12. We're perfectly located for companies to move their products nationwide, on major north-south and east-west corridors," said KURT JOHNSTON, assistant director of community development for the city of Fairfield. "Some of our business parks are also served by rail and we're close to three ports and three international airports.

"Another factor that draws businesses to Fairfield is our available land, land that is less expensive than in other parts of the San Francisco Bay Area. Finished lots in Fairfield industrial parks go for about half the price per square foot compared to neighboring Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Also, the city is very supportive of manufacturing uses. It's relatively quick and easy to build a plant in Fairfield, as sites are available in approved business and industrial parks. The city has a streamlined permitting process that allows for reduced development review and processing times, and less risk for developers."

Perhaps the most visible example of the impact food manufacturing has made on the area is the sprawling Jelly Belly facility and visitors center right outside of the city. While it is consistently rated as one of the leading tourist stops for families anywhere in the nation, with half a million visitors annually, what it is, first and foremost, is a manufacturing plant and warehouse. One that makes 16 billion jelly beans a year in over 50 flavors, and then markets them around the world.

As LISA BRASHER, vice president of administration at JELLY BELLY CANDY COMPANY, a member of the fifth generation of the candy-making family, and daughter of company chairman of the board Herman G. Rowland Sr., said recently, "When the popularity of Jelly Belly beans began to increase, we ran our Oakland factory around the clock and still had trouble keeping up with demand. Fairfield gave us the opportunity to build a new plant from the ground up and, more importantly, room to keep growing. Our first building was a 100,000-square-foot plant opened in 1986. Today we have a campus of five buildings in Fairfield."

Geography was another factor in their decision. "Fairfield was close enough to our Oakland factory that our employees were able to move with the company, and that was very important to us. Also Fairfield had a positive business environment, transportation nearby, and is a growing community.

"We are delighted to be a part of this community and do our best to support many of the wonderful programs here. Recently we've been working with Mission Solano and look forward to the opening of the new shelter."

Johnston added, "There are numerous reasons growing food industry companies, as well as other manufacturers, choose to locate in Fairfield. Water quality plays a key role in most production operations, and can affect the taste of food and beverage products. Fairfield gets its water from two sources: Lake Berryessa and the Sacramento River. Other communities rely on ground water that is of a lower quality. Our two state-of-the-art treatment plants produce a steady supply of top-quality water. Fairfield also appeals to businesses because we have water rights to nearly serve a full build-out of the community."

Right alongside Jelly Belly in terms of both visibility and name recognition, and certainly a company that is dependent on a continuous supply of excellent water, is ANHEUSER-BUSCH's Fairfield Brewery.

With a sprawling and highly visible complex on 170 acres near the intersection of Interstate 80 and Highway 12, it has been making all forms of the enormous St. Louis-based company's products since 1976; 4.4 million barrels (136 million gallons) last year alone. That's enough to fill approximately 90 trucks each day and 70 rail cars each week, serving an area that covers Alaska, Hawaii, Northern California, Northern Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

"Anheuser-Busch has been part of the Fairfield community for nearly 30 years. We chose this location for many reasons. The area has a temperate climate and central location," said KEVIN FINGER, the plant manager at the Fairfield Brewery since 2003.

"The region also has a top-notch workforce. Our employees have been extremely flexible and adaptive to changes in our industry, allowing us to continually invest in state-of-the-art technology at the brewery. Their commitment to quality and excellence will ensure we remain competitive into the future."

MASANORI YASUNAGA, the president and CEO of CALBEE AMERICA, spent a year traveling throughout the Bay Area when it came time to move the Japanese-based company's snack food products manufacturing plant from its former home in Sebastopol.

Today the company is finishing construction of a 40,000-square-foot facility that is four times larger than its former plant. It produces healthful snack foods that are sold by retailers throughout North America and parts of Europe.

"We chose Fairfield after looking at many Bay Area sites ... in the end Fairfield was the most favorable," Yasunaga said when asked for the reasons for the move from Sonoma County to Solano County. "Its location near major freeways makes it a good distribution point, and its excellent water quality and supply were a major factor in our decision to move here."

GUITTARD CHOCOLATE, the nation's oldest family-operated chocolate company, currently has a 280,000-square-foot distribution center in Fairfield, and may eventually move all of its manufacturing operations there. As a historical note, it was in the 1850s that Etienne Guittard made the difficult journey from France to America. And it was during the California Gold Rush, while the intrepid Frenchman was still in his 20s, that he struck gold on the streets of early San Francisco-gold in the form of the fine chocolates the company still makes. Now, generations later, the venerable company continues to look forward.

"After an extensive search of the greater Bay Area, Fairfield was chosen because of its availability of suitable land, accessible freeways, the work force and

cost considerations. During the period of time we have been in operation in Fairfield, we have continued to be pleased with our decision to locate there," said Guittard's vice president of operations, GERRY ALLEN. They are currently in the planning stages to bring some of their production operations to Fairfield in 2007.

As Johnston says, "All in all, the future is very bright for Fairfield. Manufacturing companies and site selectors understand the advantages of our accessible location, combined with easy access to ports and freeways, that ample supply of superior-quality water, and our value-priced, available land which offers room to expand. We tell companies Fairfield is ready, all we need is your business."

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