BUSINESS - World's Largest Food Company Moves US Headquarters to Virginia

Nestlé S.A., the world’s second largest pet care manufacturer and largest food company, is moving its US corporate headquarters from California to Arlington County, Virginia.

The company’s roots are in the food business, with Henri Nestlé’s development of a breakthrough infant food in 1867, and a 1905 merger of the the company he founded with Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company to form what is now known as the Nestlé Group.

Nestlé stepped into the pet market 80 years ago and their market share has been growing steadily as they acquired big brands like Purina.

The move east will bring headquarters closer to the bulk of its business and stakeholders.

“We carefully considered a number of options and Arlington hits all the marks. Not only is it attractive to our current employees while offering a great talent pool for the future, but this location allows us to be closer to our business operations, our customers and other important stakeholders,” Paul Grimwood, Chairman and CEO of Nestlé USA, said in a release.

Currently, 75 percent of Nestlé USA’s factories and 85 percent of its top customers are located in the eastern half of the United States.

In addition, 80 percent of the company’s products are sold east of the Mississippi River and a majority of key regulatory groups and non-government organizations pertinent to the business located in or near the Washington, D.C. areas.

The company expects to bring approximately 750 jobs to the Washington, D.C. area with this transition.

Nestlé in the US consists of eight main businesses: Nestlé USA, Nestlé Purina PetCare Company, Nestlé Waters North America, Nestlé Nutrition, Nestlé Professional, Nespresso, Nestlé Skin Health and Nestlé Health Science.

Nestlé Purina PetCare’s US headquarters will remain in St. Louis, MO and will be joined by Nestlé IT to drive efficiency across Nestlé’s US operations.

The company's pet care division has been supporting pet related causes and active in the animal industry.

In the United States, Nestlé product sales topped $26 billion in 2015, making it the largest Nestlé market in the world.