Mizkan announces $156 million expansion
Mizkan America, better known locally as Ragu, revealed plans Thursday to expand its facilities on Ragu Drive in Owensboro through a $156 million investment that is expected to create 44 full-time jobs.
The company is an industry-leading producer of pasta sauce and vinegar products.
Gov. Andy Beshear announced the project during his “Team Kentucky” update.
“Companies like Mizkan America continue to believe and invest in the commonwealth and its communities, offering quality jobs and opportunities for Kentuckians to provide for themselves and their families,” Beshear said while announcing the expansion. “I want to thank the company, as well as local and state officials who helped bring this investment to the Owensboro community, and I look forward to Mizkan’s continued success here in Kentucky.”
The project includes the expansion of the Owensboro facilities by approximately 320,000 square feet, bringing its total operational space to over 970,000 square feet. The additional space will allow for building improvements, new machinery and equipment, IT upgrades and related assets.
Koichi Yuki, CEO of Mizkan America, said the expansion is in the design phase and will move to board approval early next year. He described it as a “transformational project” for Mizkan America.
“This new project would involve a substantial investment and demonstrates our strong commitment to fulfilling the needs of our customers in alignment with Mizkan’s two principles: to offer customers only the finest products and to continuously challenge the status quo,” Yuki said. “We are very excited about the opportunity this will afford MA to grow our business, and allow us to better serve our customers. Likewise, we are extremely grateful to the Commonwealth of Kentucky for being such supportive partners in this venture.”
Mizkan America is based in Mount Prospect, Illinois, and is one of the leading makers of pasta sauce and vinegar products in the United States. Mizkan America maintains 12 manufacturing facilities that serve the retail, foodservice, specialty Asian and food ingredient trade channels. Mizkan America brands include Ragú, Bertolli, Holland House, Nakano and Mizkan.
Claude Bacon, president and CEO of the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation, said working with Mizkan on the project has been a pleasure, and that the impact of the company is significant to Owensboro-Daviess County.
“Mizkan’s operation in Greater Owensboro is significant to our economy, and this expansion project helps solidify the company’s presence here for the long term,” he said. “We are excited they chose Owensboro for this expansion and look forward to the next steps in making it a reality.
“The expansion project represents not only a significant investment in our infrastructure but also a commitment to the economic vitality of our community. By creating new jobs, attracting businesses and fostering innovation, this project will pave the way for sustained growth and prosperity for all residents.”
Daviess County Judge-Executive Charlie Castlen said he’s excited about the commitment it shows Mizkan has to the community.
“Anytime a company invests more into their local facility and gives us some assurance that they’re not going to walk away anytime soon, it’s a shield essentially, a protector and a commitment to the employees that are already on board,” he said. “The biggest thing I say is it proves their confidence in our workforce. They know they have quality employees here, and they’re willing to add to that base.
“We’re competing globally, we’re not just competing with down the street, it’s global, and when they invest as much money as they’re investing here — and we know the wages they pay here are good wages — it’s a compliment to our employee base and to the people who will become part of their team. To me, that’s a huge takeaway.”
Castlen said it’s great to see significant economic activity in Daviess County after it had largely been left on the sidelines of an economic boom in Kentucky during Beshear’s time in office.
Since the beginning of his administration, Beshear has announced more than 1,000 private-sector new-location and expansion projects totaling nearly $32 billion in announced investments, creating nearly 55,000 jobs. It’s the highest investment figure secured during the tenure of any governor in the commonwealth’s history.
“I think it’s been a long time coming that we had something real positive, and I’m very pleased,” Castlen said. “Very pleased.”
Bacon seconded Castlen that the expansion is a compliment to the strength of the area’s workforce.
“It takes a great company like Mizkan and the family of brands that they have to be successful,” Bacon said, “and it takes a great workforce in any community in order to help them become more successful.”
Owensboro Mayor Tom Watson said the expansion provides far more than the 44 jobs it’s expected to create.
“It brings in extra capital to the community, with employees’ husbands and wives, and kids; it helps our school system,” he said. “There’s just a lot of tentacles on this whole thing that is exciting to me.
“Under the leadership Claude, we’re really kind of making ourselves available.”
Further details about the expansion will be released as the project moves forward.
By Scott Hagerman Messenger- Inquirer