New Merrell and Saucony Workspaces Foster Innovation and Collaboration
Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE: WWW) today announced a major renovation of its global headquarters located in Rockford, Michigan. This investment is part of the Company’s continued efforts to modernize facilities, centralize core business operations, and attract and retain top-tier talent by creating new spaces for innovation and collaboration – along with advancing team and culture development.
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“Our company is driven by a new vision to Make. Every Day. Better. – for our team, customers, consumers, shareholders, and community,” said Chris Hufnagel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wolverine Worldwide. “We believe that to create amazing, thoughtful, trend-right, innovative products and experiences that improve our consumers’ lives and drive growth, we must provide our team members with great environments to work and win together.”
The centerpiece of the project is a top-to-bottom renovation of 40,000 square feet of space to house the Company’s two biggest brands, Merrell and Saucony, the latter of which the Company recently relocated to Rockford from Boston.
Originally constructed in 1963, this space served as a footwear factory for several decades before transitioning to dedicated office space in the 1990s. Now known as The Factory, it features exposed structures and concrete floors, floor-to-ceiling windows, 224 individual workstations, dedicated product and marketing rooms for each brand, 31 collaboration and meeting rooms, a café, and state-of-art technology for product design, marketing, and global collaboration.
“We’re proud to have been founded 142 years ago here in West Michigan, and to still call Rockford our hometown today,” continued Hufnagel. “The Factory further demonstrates our commitment to both growing our business and deepening our roots in this community.”
The project is supported by a $1-million Michigan Business Development Program grant in collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Center (MEDC) and The Right Place, Inc.
“Today’s investment announcement by Wolverine Worldwide further advances the state’s outdoor recreation industry heritage. This announcement further proves Team Michigan’s successful execution of the ‘Make it in Michigan’ economic development strategy focusing on People, Places and Projects,” said Matt McCauley, SVP Regional Development at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. “The company could have chosen to expand anywhere in the country, or world for that matter, and we remain thankful for their commitment to Michigan and the talented workforce in West Michigan.”
The Factory is the latest improvement to Wolverine Worldwide’s 300,000-square-foot global headquarters. Additional on-site amenities for team members include:
- Subsidized daycare and early education center for children six-weeks old to five-years old
- Fitness center including personal training and group classes taught by certified personal trainers
- Four miles of on-campus hiking and nature trails
- On-site, subsidized cafeteria
- Dog daycare
For video and images of the space, visit: bit.ly/thefactorywww
ABOUT WOLVERINE WORLDWIDE
Founded in 1883, Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE: WWW) is one of the world’s leading designers, marketers, and licensors of branded casual footwear and apparel, performance outdoor and athletic footwear and apparel, kids’ footwear, industrial work boots and apparel, and uniform footwear. The Company’s portfolio includes Merrell®, Saucony®, Sweaty Betty®, Hush Puppies™, Wolverine®, Chaco®, Bates®, HYTEST®, and Stride Rite®. Wolverine Worldwide is also the global footwear licensee of the popular brands Cat® and Harley-Davidson®. Based in Rockford, Michigan, for more than 140 years, the Company's products are carried by leading retailers in the U.S. and globally in approximately 170 countries and territories. For additional information, please visit our website, www.wolverineworldwide.com.
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Contacts
Emma Wach, (630) 390-8474
