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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Japan-Based House Foods America Plans Louisville, Kentucky, Production Facility

05/03/2021
Japan-Based House Foods America Corp. plans to locate a 350,000-square-foot facility on 30 acres in southwest Louisville, Kentucky. The $146.3 million investment is expected to create 109 full-time jobs.

The location will produce tofu using 100% U.S. grown, non-GMO soybeans and other food products for customers throughout the U.S. Work on the facility is expected to begin in 2022 and be completed by 2025. House Foods adds to the more than 350 food and beverage manufacturing, service and technology facilities located in the commonwealth, which currently employ over 52,000 people.

“It is an honor to join the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and we are glad to contribute to the community by making great, healthy products for customers nationwide,” said Hiromasa (Hunt) Takahashi, assistant manager of business strategy planning with House Foods.

To encourage the investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) on Thursday preliminarily approved a 10-year incentive agreement with the company under the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based agreement can provide up to $2 million in tax incentives based on the company’s investment of $146.3 million and annual targets of creation and maintenance of 109 Kentucky-resident, full-time jobs across 10 years and paying an average hourly wage of $26.87 including benefits across those jobs.

“I’m proud to welcome House Foods to Kentucky. This company truly has its eye on the future, producing healthy food products and creating a significant number of high-paying jobs in the process,” Goverpr Andy Beshear said. “The diversity of our state’s food and beverage sector is one of its greatest strengths, and House Foods is the latest company to contribute to the rapidly growing industry. Louisville will be a great fit as the company continues to grow and expand its presence in the U.S. marketplace.”

Additionally, KEDFA approved House Foods for up to $2 million in tax incentives through the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act (KEIA). KEIA allows approved companies to recoup Kentucky sales and use tax on construction costs, building fixtures, equipment used in research and development and electronic processing. By meeting its annual targets over the agreement term, the company can be eligible to keep a portion of the new tax revenue it generates. The company may claim eligible incentives against its income tax liability and/or wage assessments. In addition, House Foods can receive resources from the Kentucky Skills Network.

“Louisville is pleased to welcome House Foods America Corp. to Riverport Phase 5 in south Louisville,” Mayor Greg Fischer said. “Their new facility and the new jobs it will bring represent a terrific mash-up of our manufacturing and food and beverage clusters. I appreciate our partners at MSD, Louisville Water Co., Louisville Riverport Authority and Louisville Gas & Electric working together to help House Foods decide to make this their only American facility not on the coasts. Great teamwork!”

House Foods America Corp., a subsidiary of Japan-based House Foods Group, was founded in 1983 to introduce the company’s tofu, shirataki and other food products to the American market. The company has operated in Japan for more than 100 years and its U.S. presence includes facilities in California and New Jersey.

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