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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Calbee North America Holds Grand Opening At Its $51.1 Million Senatobia, Mississippi, Production Plant

08/13/2015
Calbee North America recently held a grand opening for its snack food manufacturing facility in Senatobia. Located in the former BMW distribution facility, the project represents a corporate investment of $51.1 million and will create 254 jobs in Mississippi.

A joint venture of Calbee, Inc., Tokyo, Japan and R.D. Offutt, Fargo, North Dakota, Calbee North America became one of the first Japanese food manufacturers in North America when it began selling its Saya and Shrimp Chips brands in the early 1970s.

“Building the plant in Senatobia was a fast track project for Calbee North America. We first looked at the building at the end of August of last year. We simultaneously began the process of working with the state and city, the seller and our engineering and construction project management team. With everyone’s support and our determined effort, we were able to make our first product by the end of May of this year,” said Calbee North America President Gene Jensen.

We currently have 70 employees operating three shifts. Already during the months of June and July, we’ve produced and shipped dozens of semi-tractor trailers of Harvest Snaps to our customers. We are excited to have the Senatobia plant join our other operations in California and Oregon. The Senatobia plant is designed for ongoing expansion to keep pace with our sales growth in the coming months and years.”

The Mississippi Development Authority provided assistance for rail and infrastructure improvements. The city of Senatobia, Tate County and Delta Regional Authority also provided assistance for the project.

“Calbee’s operations in Senatobia is supported by the strong teamwork of the Tate County Economic Development Foundation, the Tate County Board of Supervisors, the city of Senatobia, the Mississippi Development Authority and the Delta Regional Authority,” said MDA Executive Director Glenn McCullough.

“This grand opening is another positive indicator that our economy continues to gain momentum, and it also serves as a testament to the fact that Mississippi is open for business", said Governor Phil Bryant.

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