St. John v19n3

A pex Flavors Inc. was founded in 2006 to sell vanilla beans and vanilla extract harvested from its namesake estate. Now the company has grown to offer a wide range of extracts and flavors, primarily to use in alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverages, ice cream, baked goods and even teas. Hand sanitizer was added to their portfolio in 2020.

Apex Flavors Inc. RIVERSIDE CORPORATE CENTER 1371 Brass Mill Road, Suite A Belcamp, MD 21017 410.565.6600 www.apexflavors.com The company began manufacturing two types, one scented with aloe vera and lavender oil, during the coronavirus pandemic when disinfectants were at their lowest supply. Typically, Apex Flavors supplies food and beverage companies and home hobbyists throughout North America — two sectors that slowed significantly due to industry shutdowns and a decrease in spending in early spring last year. “In March 2020, our business slowed very dramatically,” said Chris Pisano,

president of Apex Flavors. “In order to keep our employees busy and to help generate some additional revenue, we decided to manufacture and sell Hand Sanitizer Topical Solution using the World Health Organization’s recommended formula.” Pisano said the company already had the necessary alcohol permits to manufacture hand sanitizer safely and needed only the packaging materials. Apex Flavors began production on hand sanitizer within 24 hours of making the call. While they were able to pivot quickly to make up for lost revenue, Pisano said the pandemic served as a reminder to keep finances in order. “We hope COVID-19 will have no negative long- term effect on our business,” he said. “It did reinforce our belief in the [importance] of running our business in a conservative manner with little debt.”

perfectly. For Apex Flavors’ needs, Pisano said the current property they lease in the Riverside Corporate Center is ideal. The St. John Properties location in Belcamp, Maryland, is situated near the Interstate 95 corridor, allowing for convenient access to and from the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast — where the bulk of Apex Flavors’ business comes from. This location houses offices, production, a warehouse and shipping, allowing for orders to be filled and shipped quickly and efficiently. Apex Flavors Inc. has been a tenant of St. John’s for more than five years now, with one move in that time to expand their space. “Our experience with St. John’s has always been excellent,” said Pisano. “Their properties are well-maintained and their team members are very responsive and professional. From my perspective as a tenant, St. John’s is a model for how a privately held company should be managed.”

In terms of physical space, things couldn’t have worked out more

26

TENANT DIGEST

Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker