Frozen food maker InnovAsian Cuisine Enterprises Inc. of Tukwila, Washington, on Tuesday announced plans to build a $105 million manufacturing facility in Jonesboro.
The project is expected to create about 200 jobs, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission said in a news release.
InnovAsian is a subsidiary of Nichirei Foods Inc. of Tokyo, Japan. The company’s products range from multi-serve entrées to rice, sides, appetizers, and single-serve meals.
The 175,000-SF facility in Jonesboro is expected to significantly increase production capacity for InnovAsian’s high-growth, multi-serve entrée line. The plant will be located in Craighead Technology Park, a 2,100-acre industrial park in Jonesboro.
“This new facility investment underscores InnovAsian’s commitment to growth and is a pivotal moment in the evolution of the brand,” Joe Kent, president and CEO of InnovAsian, said in the release. “This is a major step forward for Nichirei’s global growth strategy in the North American market.”
Arkansas Department of Commerce and AEDC leaders met with Nichirei Foods executives in Tokyo in 2025 to showcase Arkansas’ business climate and help secure the project.
The state offered the following incentives for the project: Tax Back, which provides sales and use tax refunds on the purchase of building materials and taxable machinery, and five years of the Create Rebate program, an annual cash rebate based on the number of jobs added by a company and targeted wages.
The project also received $2.81 million from the Governor’s Quick Action Closing Fund.
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