Random House expands

Random House LLC, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, is the world’s largest trade book publisher and one of Carroll County’s leading employers.

Westminster and the facility in Crawfordsville, Ind., were selected for expanded operations. The Westminster operations center, with more than 1.2 million square feet under one roof, soon will begin a multi-year investment in its facility, according to the news release.

The company plans to add a mezzanine and will be purchasing new equipment to support the expanded operations. Over time, a significant number of new jobs will be added.

Penguin Random House’s employees are responsible for shipping more than 1 million hardcover, paperback and audio titles daily to book retailers in North America.

Its Westminster location also supports information technology, customer service, financial operations, corporate payroll, inventory management, transportation and engineering services.

Random House merged with Penguin Books July 1. As a result, the newly combined company examined its current distribution and fulfillment arrangements in an effort to increase its competitive advantage in the marketplace, to grow the profitability of its titles for retailers and to bring better service to authors, according to the news release.

“Our rich history and partnership with Carroll County has enhanced the contributions our Westminster distribution and fulfillment center makes every day to the publication of many of the world’s most admired and beloved books,” said Annette Danek, Westminster-based senior vice president and director of fulfillment for Penguin Random House, in a press release. “We are delighted to receive this support of the Carroll County Department of Economic Development to help us grow our state-of-the-art Westminster operations center, which is the best at delivering our books to readers rapidly and efficiently. We are excited to bring more career opportunities to Carroll County.”