Did you know Ragú brand pasta sauce is made in Kentucky?
The sauce is made at Mizkan America’s Owensboro facility, which is now undergoing a large-scale expansion.
Creating New Jobs
The company is investing $156 million to expand the facility.
The project will add approximately 320,000-square-feet of space to the facility, which will bring the company’s operational space to nearly 1 million-square-feet.
“Our factory in Owensboro has been in business for almost 50 years and currently makes around 1 million jars of pasta sauce every day,” said Koichi Yuki, CEO of Mizkan America. “Our Owensboro team has been a huge contributor to Mizkan America’s growth and success over the years. We really believe that the future for our business is bright in Owensboro, and we feel privileged to be part of this wonderful community.”
The investment will support:
- Building improvements
- New machinery and equipment
- IT upgrades
- A new manufacturing line
- New warehousing space
These upgrades will allow the company to manufacture Holland House, cooking wine, Mizkan Asian sauces and vinegars and Nakano rice vinegar at the Owensboro plant for the first time.
Company leaders say the expansion project will help Mizkan meet customer demand and strengthen its position as a market leader.
About Mizkan America
Once complete, the expansion project is expected to create 44 new jobs.
“The tremendous growth we are seeing within Kentucky’s manufacturing industry has been a crucial component of our surging economy,” said Governor Andy Beshear. “Mizkan America’s decision to reinvest in the commonwealth and our communities shows that our New Kentucky Home is the best place for business. I look forward to the company’s continued success here in Kentucky.”
Mizkan America’s Owensboro team has supported numerous local charities over the years, most notably the Cliff Hagen Boys & Girls Club, events supporting those with special needs like Night to Shine and the GRADSA Buddy Walk, as well as providing pasta sauce donations to God’s Outreach, which helps address hunger at the local level.
The Ragú brand has also partnered with international charity Lasagna Love to celebrate National Lasagna Day.
The Mizkan Group is a privately held international food manufacturer headquartered in Handa, Japan.
The company, which is currently women-owned and -operated by members of the eighth and ninth generations of the founding Nakano family, offers a lineup of well-known international brands under the Mizkan umbrella and is a leader in the liquid condiment category.
Mizkan America, based in Mount Prospect, Illinois, is one of the leading makers of pasta sauce and vinegar products in the United States and maintains 12 manufacturing facilities that serve the retail, foodservice, specialty Asian and food ingredient trade channels.
Brands include: Ragú, Bertolli, Holland House, Nakano and Mizkan.
The company is also the exclusive distributor for Angostura bitters in North America.
For more information on Mizkan America, visit mizkan.com.
