Chicago’s Global Appeal Keeps Growing

From food to manufacturing, robotics to music, companies from around the world continue to choose Chicago as their home in the U.S. market.

In this week’s Business Pulse, we spotlight international firms from Ukraine, the U.K., Denmark, Japan, and Brazilthat are investing in Chicago — drawn by our skilled workforce, strategic location, and unmatched cultural and industrial ecosystem.

These stories highlight not just Chicago’s global connections, but the ways our city helps companies of all kinds scale, innovate, and thrive.

Amid global trade uncertainty, Chicago remains a premier destination for foreign direct investment — and a powerful engine of economic growth.

From Brazil to Ukraine, international companies are planting roots across Chicagoland, drawn by the region’s central location, the nation’s third-largest workforce, competitive operating costs, and world-class infrastructure. Chicago continues to offer a strategic gateway into the U.S. market, fueling growth across industries and connecting businesses to opportunity at scale.

European Food Companies Tap into Chicago’s Culinary Scene

Chicago’s innovative and globally renowned food landscape continues to attract European businesses looking to expand in the U.S. Ukrainian bakery chain Farmer’s Milk, which operates nearly 70 locations across Ukraine and Florida, chose Schaumburg as its first Chicago-area location — a strategic step in its U.S. growth. The company cited Chicagoland’s robust food and beverage industry, world-class transportation infrastructure, and proximity to some of the most productive farmland in the country as key factors in its decision. In June, Farmer’s Milk signed a lease for a 2,449-square-foot space in Schaumburg.

“We are excited to be launching our first location in Chicagoland, specifically in Schaumburg,” said Khrystyna Hrynokh, Co-Owner, Farmer’s Milk. This vibrant suburb of Chicago is a unique setting for our expansion: it is adjacent to a major transportation hub — O’Hare Airport — which provides excellent opportunities for business growth. The area is home to many families with children, our core customer base, and also hosts a large Ukrainian community who miss the taste of home. By the end of the year, Farmer’s Milk expects to open two more local café-bakeries, with the broader vision of developing our chain across Illinois and throughout the United States. Our introduction to World Business Chicago took place only a few months ago, but I can confidently say it has been an incredible community of professionals and friends who are ready to support, guide, and help us navigate complex questions.”

Adding to the story of European brands choosing Chicago, U.K.-based chocolatier Hotel Chocolat made the city its U.S. retail debut, bringing its luxurious chocolates and immersive sweets experience to the North Side. Known for its premium confections and hot cocoa drinks, Hotel Chocolat worked with World Business Chicago to build relationships with local leaders and partners in Lakeview and Lincoln Park — ensuring a successful start in the Chicago market.

“We’re thrilled to have Hotel Chocolat in the vibrant city of Chicago, introducing an uplifting chocolate experience for people to fall in love with,” said Kelly Goering, General Manager, Hotel Chocolat U.S. “World Business Chicago has helped build connections with key partners in the Lakeview and Lincoln Park areas to share our inventive chocolate offerings with the community.”

Manufacturing Dominance Attracts Danish & Japanese Investments

Chicago’s manufacturing strength — with more than 12,000 firms and 400,000 employees — continues to position the region as a premier destination for global industry leaders. Danish firm a BSB Industry, which specializes in custom steel, iron, and aluminum solutions, is opening a new office in Chicago to take advantage of the region’s industrial depth, strong customer base, and established supply chain. The company also plans to add a distribution center soon to further expand its U.S. operations.

Japan’s Rapyuta Robotics is also expanding its Chicago footprint. After opening its first U.S. office in Schaumburg in 2023, the company doubled down in 2025 with a new demo space to showcase its cutting-edge warehouse robotics technology to prospective clients. During a March trade mission to Japan, a Chicago delegation visited Rapyuta’s Tokyo headquarters to discuss expansion plans and see the technology in action. Over the next five years, the company expects to hire 30 additional employees to support its U.S. growth.

“Chicago is a key strategic hub for Japanese companies in the U.S. Midwest, offering industrial diversity, market scale, excellent connectivity, a skilled workforce, and a high quality of life,” said Nakagawa Takashi, Chief Executive Director, Chicago Office, JETRO – Japan External Trade Organization . “The city’s innovation ecosystem has also attracted a growing number of Japanese startups. WBC and JETRO have actively supported Japanese business engagement through joint initiatives, such as the co-hosted seminar in Tokyo in March and the Quantum Delegation to Chicago in June. I am delighted to see our partnership becoming increasingly tangible and dynamic.”

Strm Music Finds Creative Inspiration in Chicago

From the Smashing Pumpkins to Common, Chicago has always been a city where artists thrive — and global creative companies are taking note. AI-powered music platform Strm chose Chicago for its U.S. headquarters, drawn to the city’s rich creative ecosystem and talent base. Strm’s technology supports over 50,000 musicians worldwide with services ranging from career coaching and financial support to music distribution. The company established its U.S. office at 2112 Creative Industries Incubator, a creative incubator in the Portage Park neighborhood, further cementing its place in Chicago’s dynamic music and innovation scene.

Chicago’s global reputation as a magnet for business and creativity is built on the success of companies like these — and on the collaborative spirit of partners who help make their journey here seamless.