Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – Construction is set to begin soon on InnovAsian Cuisine’s new frozen food manufacturing facility in Jonesboro, as officials broke ground on the building Tuesday.
The facility is estimated to bring 200 jobs in the area, with construction to be completed by the end of 2027. The facility will open, and frozen food production will begin, in 2028.
The 180,000-square-foot building will be located in Craighead Technology Park at 2905 Quality Way. The development is expected to cost around $150 million.
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Officials said during the ceremony that Jonesboro was ultimately selected after a 15-state search due to its proximity to chicken and rice production, transportation and freight services, and skilled labor pool.
“The reason Arkansas won this investment is the same reason that we’ve broken jobs records almost every single month since I took office. We have one of the most pro-business environments in the country, and it’s only getting better,” said Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. “Thank you, InnovAsian, for picking Arkansas, and more importantly, picking Arkansans.”
InnovAsian Cuisine Enterprises Inc. is a subsidiary of Japan-based Nichirei Foods Inc. It manufactures various frozen Asian meals, offering entrées, rice, sides, appetizers, and more. Jonesboro Unlimited announced in February that the facility would be built in Jonesboro.
Hiring for various positions at the facility is expected to begin in early 2027. For more information, click here.
“We sincerely hope that this facility will contribute to the development of the local economy, create employment opportunities, and become a place where we grow together with the community for many years to come,” Masahiko Takenaga, president of Nichirei Foods Inc., said through a translator. “I sincerely hope that today’s groundbreaking will serve as the first step toward a bright future for Nichirei Global Foods, InnovAsiain Cuisine, and the City of Jonesboro.”
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