InnovAsian to build $150M frozen food plant in Arkansas
InnovAsian breaks ground on a $150M frozen food plant in Arkansas, creating 200 jobs and boosting local manufacturing by 2028.
InnovAsian Cuisine, a subsidiary of Japan-based Nichirei Foods, has begun construction on a $150 million frozen food manufacturing plant in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The 180,000-square-foot facility is expected to create about 200 jobs when production starts in early 2028.
The company broke ground on August 11 at Craighead Technology Park, a 2,100-acre industrial site in the city. Officials said the decision to build in Arkansas followed a competitive search across multiple states, with the state’s logistics network, workforce, and local incentives playing key roles.
Why Arkansas won the project
InnovAsian cited speed-to-market and a skilled labor pool as major factors in its choice. The facility will produce Asian-inspired frozen meals, appetizers, and side dishes for U.S. consumers. Joe Kent, the company’s president and CEO, called the project a “significant milestone” that would help meet growing demand for its products.
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders attended the new ceremony, along with Jonesboro Mayor Harold Copenhaver and executives from Nichirei Foods. Sanders highlighted the state’s agricultural resources, transportation infrastructure, and lower cost of living as advantages that attracted the investment.
“Their parent company, Nichirei Foods, is headquartered on the other side of the world and didn’t find Arkansas by accident,” she said. “That’s why we build relationships overseas—to tell our story abroad and bring more jobs home.”
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Clint O’Neal, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, said the plant would reinforce the region’s reputation as a food manufacturing center. The project is slated for completion by the end of 2027.
A growing footprint in U.S. food production
InnovAsian’s expansion reflects broader trends in the frozen food sector, where demand for globally inspired meals has risen steadily.
The new facility will hire for a range of roles, from production workers to management. Job listings and application details are available on the company’s website.
For Jonesboro, the project represents one of the largest industrial investments in recent memory. The city, known for its agricultural roots, has increasingly positioned itself as a logistics and manufacturing hub, with Craighead Technology Park serving as a key development zone.
Construction is already underway, with local officials expecting the plant to become a major employer in the area. If timelines hold, the first products could roll off the line in just over three years.
