Headquartered in Secaucus, N.J., Hartz Mountain Industries, Inc. owns and manages the largest privately held commercial real estate portfolio in the United States, comprised of approximately 200 properties and totaling more than 35 million sq. ft. (3,251,500 sq. m.) in the northern New Jersey/New York area.
      In 1999, Corporate Express, one of the world's largest suppliers of essential office and computer products, sought to consolidate its three New Jersey facilities as it merged its operations with those of its new parent company, Buhmann, NV. Among the company's requirements were 32-ft. (9.8-m.) ceilings, 500-pound floor loads, and a conveyor system. Corporate Express also had the opportunity to reduce delivery times by locating in the center of their tri-state area distribution range, rather than in a more remote area.
      Hartz Mountain, which owned two of Corporate Express's existing New Jersey locations, responded with a proposal to construct a 339,000-sq.ft. (31,493.1-sq.-m.) state-of-the-art warehouse facility with ancillary office space within its Harmon Cove mixed-use development in Secaucus, N.J.
      Because Hartz built Corporate Express's facility specifically for them, it met or exceeded all of their technical specs. A state-of-the-art conveyor system was installed during construction, along with a sliding shoe sorter, and a customized warehouse management system. By building a facility specific to the needs of its tenant, Hartz was able to increase the efficiency and, therefore, the profitability of Corporate Express's operations and enable them to accomplish their corporate goals.