Jun 11, 2021   SOURCE: BusinessWire

Fairfax County Lands StarKist Headquarters; Company Will Create 83 New Jobs at New Base in Reston

Gov. Ralph Northam announced today that StarKist Co., a food company that provides trusted, healthy, shelf-stable seafood and chicken in the United States, will invest $3.6 million to relocate its corporate and administrative headquarters operations from Pittsburgh to Fairfax County. Virginia successfully competed with Maryland for the project, which will create 83 new jobs.

The company will occupy almost 24,000 square feet at 1875 Explorer Street in Reston.

"At StarKist we are committed to growing our business in Virginia," said Andrew Choe, president and CEO, StarKist Co. "We expect to have more than 80 employees working from our new Reston headquarters starting in April 2022, and look forward to becoming active members of the Fairfax County business community."

"We would like to thank Governor Northam and the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority for their ongoing support throughout this process,” Choe said. “I believe the move to Virginia will provide an outstanding work environment for our employees, as well as an opportunity to expand the StarKist business in the years ahead.”

An industry innovator, StarKist Co. was the first brand to introduce single-serve pouch products, which include Tuna Creations®, Salmon Creations®, and Chicken Creations®. StarKist represents a tradition of quality, consumer trust, and a commitment to sustainability. StarKist's charismatic brand icon, Charlie® the Tuna, swam into the hearts of tuna fans in 1961. StarKist Co. is a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Dongwon Industries Co., Ltd.

“I am so pleased to thank StarKist for choosing Fairfax County for its new headquarters,” said Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA). “This is a testament to the growing attractiveness of Northern Virginia to a wide variety of industry sectors and companies that know we have the assets and talent base to succeed here.”

“I want to thank and congratulate StarKist for choosing to base its operations in Fairfax County,” said Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey C. McKay. “The county has invested heavily to make this a great place to locate a business, to work and to live, and I am delighted that StarKist will be able to join the Fairfax County business community and take advantage of what we offer.”

The FCEDA promotes Fairfax County as a business and technology center. In addition to its headquarters in Tysons, Fairfax County’s largest business district, the FCEDA maintains business investment offices in six important global business centers: Bangalore/Mumbai, Berlin, London, Los Angeles, Seoul and Tel Aviv. Follow the FCEDA on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

The FCEDA is a member of the Northern Virginia Economic Development Alliance. Other members: Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, Arlington County, City of Fairfax, City of Falls Church, Fauquier County, Loudoun County, City of Manassas, City of Manassas Park and the Prince William County Department of Economic Development.