Food Firm Ariake U.S.A. Invests $17M in Plant Expansion

Manufacturer of stocks, bases, and seasonings Ariake U.S.A. Inc. plans to invest $17 million in the expansion of its Harrisonburg, VA plant and create 22 new jobs, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) announced Wednesday.

A subsidiary of the Japanese firm Ariake Group, the company has operated a production facility at the 34-acre site in Harrisonburg since 1990. The latest investment will be Ariake’s third major expansion of the site in the past several decades.

“Ariake U.S.A.’s third expansion at its Harrisonburg facility is a powerful testament to Virginia’s thriving food manufacturing industry, which has generated $2.2 billion in capital investment and more than 7500 jobs in the past 27 years,” Virginia Secretary of Commerce Todd Haymore said in a press release.

The site’s footprint will be increased by 20,000 sq ft, but the release did not offer specific details on what the expansion entails.

“Ariake U.S.A. values our established relationships in the vibrant Harrisonburg area business community including the proximity to raw materials from local poultry plants,” said Atsushi Moribayashi, director of production at Ariake, in a statement.

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