JONESBORO, Ark. — InnovAsian Cuisine Enterprises, a producer of frozen Asian-style meals, will invest $150 million in constructing a 180,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in the Jonesboro Industrial Park. The facility is set to become the company's largest in North America, creating more than 200 jobs in the region.
The company announced it will break ground on the facility on Tuesday, August 11, at 9:30 a.m. at the corner of C.W. Post Road and Quality Way. Construction is expected to be completed by early 2028, according to InnovAsian CEO and President Joe Kent. This will be the company’s second plant overall, following a smaller operation in California.
Kent said Jonesboro was selected after an extensive search that considered multiple locations. "Jonesboro checked all the boxes," Kent explained. "A skilled labor force, great state and local support, and the benefits of being a university town—we’re excited to get started."
The facility plans to utilize locally sourced ingredients, including rice and poultry, for its operations. Incoming Jonesboro General Manager Glenn Scott, who will relocate to the area next year, emphasized the importance of sourcing from and building ties in the community, adding that food produced at the plant will soon have a recognizable local connection.
"You can walk into a store, look at a carton, and say, 'We made it right here,'" Scott said. "Food should be fun, and our culture is fun."
At full capacity, the plant is expected to employ roughly 200 people, starting with about 90 workers for its first shift. Job applications will open in spring 2027. Scott noted that the company is particularly looking for candidates skilled in technology and math.
The presence of Arkansas State University and the area's workforce pool factored heavily into the company’s decision to establish its largest facility in Jonesboro. Economic development leaders in the region have long sought to attract food manufacturing operations, bolstered by the area's access to raw materials.
The InnovAsian facility reflects an ongoing trend of economic growth in Northeast Arkansas, with Jonesboro continuing to position itself as a hub for manufacturing and logistics.
The groundbreaking event on Tuesday will mark the first step in bringing this large-scale investment and job opportunities to the local community.