In recognition that a great office deal is about far more than just the office, Freshpet’s new global headquarters in Bedminster was named the NAIOP New Jersey Office Deal of the Year for 2026, Thursday night at the sold-out NAIOP Gala at the Palace in Somerset.
The project, developed by Advance Realty, not only brings a publicly traded company to a newly constructed, build-to-suit headquarters, it does so at a time when ground-up office development remains rare.
That’s good for the state.
Freshpet’s decision to establish its global base in Bedminster reflects both confidence in the region’s workforce and a long-term commitment to New Jersey.
The headquarters serves as the anchor for the broader Bedminster Village Square redevelopment, helping transform a traditional suburban office site into a more modern, mixed-use destination.
Designed with sustainability, collaboration, and employee experience in mind, the facility features flexible workspaces, indoor-outdoor connectivity, and — of course — a pet-friendly environment.
The project demonstrates how thoughtfully designed suburban office campuses can remain competitive in today’s evolving workplace landscape.
And it wasn’t the only deal recognized for that distinction at the event.
The new Sanofi headquarters at M Station West in Morristown, which also was a nominee for Office Deal of the Year, was instead honored with a Transformative Deal of the Year award, underscoring its broader impact on both the office market and downtown redevelopment.
Sanofi’s commitment to the newly built M Station campus marked one of the most high-profile corporate relocations in the state, bringing a major global life sciences firm into the heart of Morristown.
The move represented a clear endorsement of transit-oriented, walkable environments and reinforced Morristown’s status as one of New Jersey’s premier corporate hubs – and as M Station as a hub in that movement. Deloitte occupies M Station East.
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1888 Studios, the landmark film and television production campus currently under development on the Bayonne waterfront, was honored with the 2026 Emerging Markets Deal of the Year award.
The award recognizes the complexity and impact of the public-private partnership that is transforming a 74-acre former Texaco refinery—a long-dormant brownfield—into a 1.5 million-square-foot, world-class production hub. Designed “for movie makers by movie makers,” the campus represents one of the most significant real estate transactions in New Jersey’s history, anchored by a landmark 10-year lease with Paramount (a Skydance Corporation).
Flynn Busson, president of Business Development, accepted the award on behalf of 1888 Studios and its extensive list of partners, including Togus Urban Renewal LLC, Gensler/Turner Construction and the NJEDA.
Dan Kennedy, CEO of NAIOP NJ, praised the project as a testament to creativity and ambition, noting its potential to reshape the state’s economic and creative future for decades to come. 1888 Studios continues to engage additional industry partners to further solidify New Jersey’s position at the forefront of the global entertainment industry.
Here is a list of other honorees, all of which were previously announced.
Charles Klatskin Lifetime Achievement Award
- Edwin Cohen, Prism Capital Partners
Impact Award
- Clark Machemer, Crow Holdings Development
Impact Award
- Rob Kossar, JLL’s Northeast Industrial Region
Industry Service Award
- Dana Nalbantian, Gensler
Caren Franzini Public Partner Award
- Hon. Brad J. Cohen, Mayor of East Brunswick
- Hon. Lawrence K. Jacobs, Mayor of Bedminster Township
