First 20 Years

Amway was incorporated in 1959 and grew rapidly in the early years. Always based in Ada, Michigan, USA, Amway had to move to bigger premises twice within its first year of business. That final move in 1960 was to a location on Fulton Street which had been an abandoned gas station and garage. It was this site that grew to become the famous Amway, and now Alticor, World Headquarters.

From this humble site, Amway becan to create a headquarters that would develop, manufacture and package their new Home Care product range, L.O.C™ Cleaner and SA8™ Laundry Detergent. A massive fire at the Ada site in 1969 destroyed the aerosol plant but Amway, determined to be undaunted by the tragedy, rebuilt the factory and carried on.

1973 saw the opening of the Center of Free Enterprise, dedicated to the entrepreneurial spirit around the world.

By 1979 Ada World Headquarters had expanded to an amazing 2.5 million sq ft (230 thousand square metres) incorporating R&D, manufacturing, distribution and administration.