A major manufacturer of herbal extracts is the new owner of a 130,925-square-foot warehouse in Brea.
China-based Jiaherb Inc. paid $54 million, or $410 per square foot, for a recently built warehouse at 2929 E. Imperial Highway in Brea — about a mile from Beckman Coulter Diagnostics’ local headquarters. The herbal extracts company, an owner-occupier of the single-level warehouse, plans to move into the industrial space by the end of this year, according to CoStar data.
Boston-based AEW Capital Management was the seller, according to public documents.
The warehouse was built on 5.6 acres in 2023 and was vacant prior to the sale. Western Realco was listed as the building’s developer.
Amenities include a two-level, 4,995-square-foot office area, 11 dock-high doors and a secure truck court.
Newmark, the real estate advisory firm that marketed the building for sale, said the warehouse could be used for distribution, last-mile e-commerce, manufacturing or cold storage.
Other companies and retailers near the property include Walmart, dental products maker Envista and Whole Foods Market.
Jiaherb was founded in Xi’an, China, in 2000 and expanded to the U.S. with a New Jersey location in 2008. The herbal extracts company arrived in California in 2010. Its West Coast operation is based in Anaheim.
Jiaherb manufactures more than 500 ingredients for cosmetic brands, the food and beverage industry, pharmaceuticals and nutrients companies.
Orange County Industrial Market
Jiaherb’s purchase of 2929 E. Imperial Highway coincides with a softening of Orange County’s industrial market, according to a CBRE report.
The region’s industrial market was, per CBRE, “marked by rising vacancy and declining asking lease rates.”
“Economic uncertainty and concerns surrounding tariffs contributed to a cautious approach among decision-makers, lessening the urgency to commit to space,” the CBRE industrial market report for the second quarter of 2025 said. “However, gross activity remained strong, reaching 2.5 million square feet in Q2 2025.
“User sale volume exceeded expectations in Q2 2025 as buyers opted to purchase across all asset classes,” the report continued. “Manufacturing, food & beverage, and transportation were the most active sectors in the market, adding to an already diverse tenant mix across Orange County.”
CBRE predicted investment volume would remain steady with 2023 and 2024 levels, despite tariffs and negative responses to the global news cycle.
“It could take time for the costs associated with higher tariffs and global uncertainty to filter through, but in the meantime CBRE has increased its 2025 GDP growth outlook to 1.3% for 2025,” the report said.
The most notable sales for the second quarter of 2025 were 6600 Valley View St. and Spectrum Center Business Park, according to Cushman & Wakefield.
Stockbridge Capital Group LLC bought 6600 Valley View St. in Buena Park for $99.5 million (see page 1) in June, while Newport Beach-based Buchanan Street Partners acquired a 16-building infill industrial park in Lake Forest for $63 million.