Despite Closing U.S. Facility, La Marzocco Will Remain Active in U.S. Market

Florence, Italy-based espresso equipment manufacturer La Marzocco will close its Seattle facility on April 15th. President Ron Cook said that the savings would permit expansion in Florence and speed the release of new products globally. La Marzocco remains committed to the U.S. market and has named former Seattle Plant Manager Bill Crossland as its U.S. market specification leader. Crossland will lead research and development and serve as a liaison between the company and its top global customer and importing partner, Espresso Specialists, Inc. He will work out of Espresso Specialists' facility in Seattle.

"Because of the difficult business environment for short-term expansions in Italy at the time, a Seattle facility made more sense," said Cook, referring to the opening of the Seattle facility in 1996 in order the meet demand caused largely by Starbucks' explosive growth.

Nine employees will lose their jobs as a result of the closure.

"A business decision dictated that we close the Seattle facility," stated Cook. "We will sincerely miss the dedicated artisans we employed in Seattle."

For more information, visit www.lamarzocco.com.