Manufacturing is hitting its groove again in New York City, but among a different crowd then you might imagine.  NYC’s makers are a driving force behind the 5-year increase in manufacturing jobs that hit a low in 2011.  Large scale manufacturing has given way to the growth of smaller, niche companies, such as that in the food industry.

Per the article from Wall Street Journal’s Keiko Morris:

“New York City’s restaurant market has been off the chart,” said James Parrott,deputy director and chief economist of the Fiscal Policy Institute. “That has helped create the market for specialty food manufacturing.”

Case in point: Colson Patisserie, a 10-year old cafe and bakery business with a busy wholesale unit.

In 2012, Colson outgrew its baking operation in the back of its Park Slope cafe and moved to a 3,500-square-foot space in Industry City, saidAndrew Hackel, a Colson partner and the company’s director of sales.

Nick Liakaris, left and Mamadou Gaye prepare dough at Colson Patisserie in Brooklyn’s Sunset Park. The company has increased production and added staff, and is preparing to move into a larger space. 

Now the wholesale division, which also serves hotels and high-end grocery stores, has about 21 workers. It has increased its daily production from about 1,100 pieces daily to about 7,500 on a busy day. It is poised to move into an 8,000-square-foot space.

“I thank the explosive growth in coffee shops in New York City,” Mr. Hackel said.

The citywide surge in construction—of apartments but also office buildings—has fed the growth of old and new companies providing customized upscale products including interior fixtures such as counter tops or exterior elements such as building facades. Often they rely heavily on technologically advanced automated equipment that allows them to work faster in smaller spaces.

For the full article, click here.