Keurig is Brewing A Move Out of Reading

Coffee giant is looking to close its Reading headquarters on Walkers Brook Drive and may move its operations to Burlington.

Company officials appeared before the Burlington Board of Selectmen on Monday. Chris Stevens, vice president of corporate relations, and Lynn Tokarczyk, president of Business Development Strategies, Inc., discussed the possibilities of moving the Keurig headquarters to Burlington. The idea was met with enthusiasm by members of the board and Burlington Town Administrator Robert Mercier.

Stevens said Keurig, which is owned by Green Mountain Coffee, is looking for a larger location to consolidate its headquarters. Currently, Keurig has a base of operations in Reading and offices in other New England states.

Tokarczyk confirmed after the meeting that the company is looking to close office locations, including the Reading office, and move to a new location, though the final destination is under consideration.

"This is a relocation and consolidation into one facility. They haven't made a decision on which location, in Massachusetts or outside of the state yet," she said. "This is just preliminary. Burlington has two locations in consideration and there are others under consideration as well."

Stevens said that the company is interested in Burlington because of its easy access from the highway, business-friendly atmosphere and amenities for employees.

Keurig also plans to hire 400 new employees. Tokarczyk said jobs will be advertised to qualified Burlington residents first if the company were to go to town.

"The hiring plan is to open jobs to qualified Burlington residents first," she said. "Keurig will advertise locally and at job fairs and various events. What they're saying is they expect to create 400 jobs and look to hire qualified residents of Burlington first and then the region."

Members of the Burlington Board of Selectmen were enthusiastic about the possibility of Keurig going to Burlington.

"We think Keurig coming to Burlington would be great for the community," Selectman Robert Hogan said. "Even if residents get one-fourth of the new jobs, that is still 100 new jobs."