County of San Bernardino– Lollicup® USA, Inc., a specialty beverage manufacturer, supplier, and retailer announced the expansion and relocation of its US headquarters to the County of San Bernardino.

The new state-of-the-art 300,000-square-foot plus facility is now under construction at 6185 Kimball Avenue in Chino, CA.  Lollicup plans to relocate into the new facility by mid-third quarter of 2013.  The building will also house Lollicup’s Southern California distribution center and manufacturing, as well as provide on-site sales for their retail customers.

Lollicup is relocating from approximately 140,000 square feet of space located in the cities of Walnut and Industry, making the move to the County an expansion for the firm.  The company currently has 150 employees, with plans to add additional employees once relocation is complete.

Alan Yu, President & CEO of Lollicup stated, “We are bringing manufacturing back to the US.  In addition to our corporate headquarters, our new space will house a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for paper and plastic disposable goods.  We are moving our manufacturing from Asia to California to shorten our customers’ lead times and to meet increased demand for our products.  Once in place, we’ll be able to provide a 24-hour operation, eliminating the time and process involved with shipping overseas.  We also look forward to adding more people to our organization and working with the County to achieve our goals.”

In business since 2000, Lollicup® USA Inc. bears the same name as its nationwide and international chain of Lollicup bubble drink stores.  These specialty drink stores are known for adding fun twists to one’s drinks through the addition of boba, jellies, or other drink accompaniments to customers’ favorite teas and beverages.  Lollicup is also the proud manufacturer of Karat® brand disposable goods and Teazone® brand of flavoring products & drink accessories.  Lollicup also offers several other brands of specialty drink products, and prides itself in being a true “one-stop shop” for their customers’ beverage needs by offering consultation & training services/courses.  In addition to its Southern California Headquarters, Lollicup operates facilities in Summerville, South Carolina and Seattle, Washington.

The new industrial building is situated on 16.3 acres.  It will feature 46 loading docks, two drive-in bays, a 32-foot high ceiling, ESFR system, metal halide lighting, 800-amp heavy power, and industrial trailer parking.

Kelly Reenders, Economic Development Agency Administrator, County of San Bernardino, remarked, “It’s exciting to see manufacturers look to this region to build their operations. Our location at the intersection of four major Southern California counties will put Lollicup in a prime position to reach millions of customers and more efficiently grow and service their client base.”

Lollicup represents a growing trend in reshoring: many manufacturers seeking higher quality and quicker turnaround are moving manufacturing back to the United States. This process also brings about the additional benefit of offering more employment to locally-based workers.

“The County remains uniquely positioned to attract more manufacturing because of a large 900,000 strong quality workforce, strategic location, and reliable infrastructure along with a proactive business environment. These attributes are helping to drive a number of positive signs for our local economy. Lollicup’s decision further validates the quality of our business community and lifestyle,” added Reenders.

About the County of San Bernardino: Located at the heart of Southern California, an economy of 22 million people, the County of San Bernardino is the largest county in the United States. Its vast borders stretch from the greater Los Angeles area to the Nevada border and the Colorado River encompassing a total area of 20,160 square miles. Comprised of 24 cities, the County of San Bernardino encompasses more than two million residents with a workforce exceeding 900,000. Its assets include an innovation corridor of close to two dozen colleges and universities supporting a strong, diverse workforce along with an unparalleled collection of roadways, runways and railways that lead to regional, national and international business centers. One of its transportation assets is the Ontario International Airport featuring the western hub for UPS. Visit www.SBCountyAdvantage.com.