Mayor Rahm Emanuel today joined leading global floral company FTD, 18 neighborhood chambers and aldermen from around the city to announce the company is relocating its world headquarters to Chicago. FTD has been based in Downers Grove for 31 years and the move to Chicago is designed to strengthen the company’s position as the world’s leading floral innovator.

“Chicago is the best city in the world for a company that wants to expand its footprint, create new jobs and strengthen the economy in neighborhoods around the city and invest in our shared future,” Mayor Emanuel said. “I commend FTD for choosing to relocate its global headquarters to Chicago and put down roots in our great city. More companies have relocated their headquarters to Chicago than to any other American city every year for the last five years, creating more jobs for people in every neighborhood, and we are now proud to be home to FTD as well.”

“Our relocation to the heart of Chicago’s Tech Triangle represents more than just a new headquarters for us,” said FTD President and CEO John Walden. “It is an important start to a multi-pronged strategic plan to reclaim our 108-year heritage as the world's floral innovator and leader. The move will enable us to develop the kind of technology sophistication and culture that will drive the creation of products, brands and technology-driven services our customers love.”

FTD is a highly recognized brand and global leader in the floral and gift industry. The brand’s iconic Mercury Man logo is displayed in approximately 35,000 floral shops in nearly 125 countries.

The new headquarters will occupy 50,000 square feet at 1 N. Dearborn and give the company access to Chicago’s top talent across many business segments. The space can accommodate over 250 work stations. FTD plans to hire 50 new employees in 2018 and will start to relocate some of its Downers Grove staff to the new office. The move will be concluded by the summer of 2018.

FTD was founded over 100 years ago in 1910, when 13 florists joined together to send floral orders across the U.S. by telegraph. FTD has continued to use that approach to technical innovation to lead the floral industry. The company pioneered same-day flowery delivery to anywhere in the country and created the first national network of florists that grew to be the global network it is today. It is the same tech-driven approach that led FTD to start selling flowers online nearly 25 years ago.

The move to Chicago is part of the company’s comprehensive plan for future growth. The Five-Year Strategic Plan is designed to drive significant long-term shareholder value by focusing on four key components: Consumer focus, florist partners, supply chain efficiency and complementary gifting categories outside of floral.

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