Purolator International expands on LI

A freight forwarder with deep roots on Long Island has expanded in Jericho instead of elsewhere in the metropolitan region, executives said.

Purolator International has leased 21,000 square feet at 2 Jericho Plaza for its headquarters, consolidating offices from Jericho and Farmingdale.

The company had considered moving to Suffolk County, to an office building near Kennedy Airport or to New Jersey. Purolator held a small ceremony Monday to mark the opening of its new headquarters, which is 10 percent larger than its prior offices.

Purolator originally sold automotive oil filters -- the name is short for "pure oil later." The company had an operation on Long Island by 1947.

Purolator was offering courier services by the 1960s, and by the late 1980s that division had grown so much that executives decided to exit the oil filter business. The company also moved to Canada, where it was purchased by that nation's post office, and only returned to the Long Island in 2001.

Purolator International president John Costanzo re-established its presence with a small office in Uniondale. Since 2010, he's overseen the addition of 20 satellite locations across the United States, bringing the total to 30.

"I see our growth continuing," he said. "We've been doubling the business every three to five years . . . I expect our [annual] sales to be over $300 million in the next five years."

Purolator helps businesses and consumers with their shipments north of the border. But Costanzo said the company also can ship packages within the United States and arrange for them to be sent to other countries.

Purolator competes against UPS, FedEx and other package delivery services. Its customer roster is almost evenly split between businesses and consumers, he said.

Costanzo said the company has the option to rent an adjacent 9,000 square feet, which may be needed to accommodate rapid sales growth.

Purolator has more than 300 workers in the United States, with about 100 in Jericho. It expects to add another 40 locally by 2025.

In return for promising to maintain its New York State workforce and to hire, the company was awarded up to $600,000 in state tax breaks over 10 years.

Howard Zemsky, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's economic development czar, said, "Purolator's international shipping capabilities provide Long Island companies access to markets throughout the world."

Costanzo said the state aid was a key element in keeping the company on the Island, along with skilled local workers and proximity to major shipping centers.

"There's tremendous potential for us to grow in the United States," he said. "And I wanted to stay on Long Island."