Treehouse ready to move into new headquarters

TreeHouse Foods employees are expected to move into the company's new expanded headquarters in Oak Brook beginning Monday.

TreeHouse Foods, a private label producer known for once having Michelle Obama as a board member, is moving from Westchester to its new location at 2021 Spring Road, part of the Commerce Plaza office park.

The company will occupy about 42,000 square feet on the fifth and sixth floors of the building, according to general contractor J.C. Anderson of Elmhurst.

Treehouse Foods is a food manufacturer servicing primarily the retail grocery and food service markets. Its large product assortment includes nondairy powdered coffee creamer, canned soup, salad dressings and sauces, macaroni and cheese, salsas and pickles.

The company is increasing its space by about 45 percent. TreeHouse, which went public in 2005 as a spinoff of Dean Foods Co., grew early this year when it acquired Manawa, Wis.-based Sturm Foods in a $655 million deal.

TreeHouse is taking over contiguous space at its new seven-story building, which had been vacant for nearly two years.

The project included a complete rehab of perimeter offices and interior open office areas, said Kristy Wenz, a spokesman for J.C. Anderson, one of the areas oldest and largest interior general contractors. The new space features training and conference rooms and an executive boardroom, all incorporating AV technology and millwork to display the company's products, she said. CB Richard Ellis has served as the construction manager.

TreeHouse became more recognized in 2007 when Michelle Obama left the company's board while her husband was on the campaign trail for president. Her post at the company became controversial because Walmart is a large TreeHouse customer. As an Illinois senator, her husband had spoken against Walmart for its wages and benefit packages.