Global pasta brand Barilla celebrated the grand opening of its new Region Americas Headquarters in Northbrook, IL Monday.

“This is a new and exciting chapter for us—one that speaks to the passion we feel for continuous innovation. It's how we are growing the business,” says Guido Barilla, company chairman. “Now, when our employees come to work they are welcomed to a space that is built for collaboration and learning, both of which are the engine that pushes us forward into new territories and to even better serve our customers.”

In August, Barilla relocated approximately 150 employees from Bannockburn, IL to the new office. The company chose the new facility to enhance the employee and customer experience, as well as enable new research and development innovation capabilities, according to Barilla.

Founded in 1877 out of a shop that made bread and pasta, the Barilla Group now owns and operates 30 production sites—14 in Italy and 16 abroad—that export  1.7 million tons of food products each year.