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InnovAsian to Invest $105 million in new frozen food manufacturing facility
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Thursday, 05 February, 2026, 16 : 00 PM [IST]
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Arkansas, USA
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InnovAsian Cuisine Enterprises Inc., a subsidiary of Nichirei Foods Inc., has announced plans to build a new 175,000-square-foot frozen food manufacturing facility in Jonesboro, Arkansas, marking a major expansion of its U.S. production footprint. The $105 million investment will significantly increase InnovAsian’s capacity to produce a range of popular frozen Asian-inspired meals, while also creating approximately 200 new jobs for the local community.
The new state-of-the-art facility will be located in Craighead Technology Park, a rapidly growing industrial hub in Northeast Arkansas, chosen after a competitive multi-state site selection process. The location offers strong logistical advantages, a skilled workforce and robust support from local and state authorities. The expanded production space will help InnovAsian meet growing demand for its products across the U.S., particularly its multi-serve entrées, rice, sides, appetizers and single-serve meals often found in grocery freezers nationwide.
“This new facility investment underscores InnovAsian’s commitment to growth and is a pivotal moment in the evolution of the brand,” said Joe Kent, president and CEO of InnovAsian. He noted that the Jonesboro plant will enable the company to better satisfy consumer demand for convenient, high-quality Asian cuisine while contributing to local economic development. InnovAsian has collaborated closely with Jonesboro Unlimited, the Governor of Arkansas, and the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) in planning and securing the project.
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders welcomed the investment, highlighting how the new facility will expand opportunities in the region and support the state’s key agricultural and food manufacturing sectors. “With approximately 200 new jobs coming to Jonesboro, this project strengthens our economy and expands opportunity in Northeast Arkansas,” she said, noting the state’s tradition of turning farm products into value-added foods.
InnovAsian’s expansion reflects the broader growth of the frozen food category in the U.S., where consumer preferences continue to shift toward convenient, flavourful ready meals. The new Arkansas plant positions the company to enhance production efficiency, strengthen supply chain responsiveness and support future product innovation as it scales its presence in the competitive frozen foods market.
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