Rich’s Opens Innovation Center

In tandem with its global growth strategy, Rich Products Corp. has opened the $18.5 million, 84,000-square-foot Innovation Center and Atrium @Rich's. The Buffalo, N.Y.-based in-store bakery provider, which is celebrating 70 years in business, currently operates 34 plants around the world.

The new center, also in Buffalo, provides the company's associates with technology for sharing insights, exploring new product opportunities, showcasing items for customers, and supporting the company's global network of plants and research and development (R&D) facilities.

Additionally, the center's business and social complex boasts a physical design conducive to better collaboration and more effective meeting functionality. Amenities include broadcast-enabled presentation and learning areas and an up-to-the-minute test kitchen equipped with advanced communications technologies. According to the company, the center's operations offer improved speed and flexibility for employees from Rich's sales, marketing, R&D, and culinary teams to drive innovation and solve problems in partnership with customers. The Atrium centerpiece does double duty as an event space for the local community.

Future plans for the complex include a redesigned R&D lab, an enhanced sensory evaluation center, and a worldwide video library of food product information that can be accessed from anywhere electronically.