USA: Dainty Foods establishes manufacturing facility

Dainty Foods, the Canadian rice producer and subsidiary of the France-based Marbour Group, has announced it will establish its first manufacturing operation in the USA in Batavia Township (OH).

The project involves an initial investment of $85 million, with a total projected spend of $150 million over five years. The new 250,000 sq ft facility is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2027 and will create approximately 240 jobs. Once fully operational, the site is designed to manufacture up to 250 million units annually, focusing on retort pouches before expanding into rice cups and bowls to meet growing demand for convenient meal solutions.

James Maitland, CEO of Les Aliments Dainty Foods Inc., described the move as a “transformative milestone” in the company’s growth strategy. Maitland added: “Establishing Dainty USA LLC strengthens our presence in the U.S. market, increases production capacity with world-class automation, and brings innovative, convenient meal solutions closer to American consumers”.

Dainty Foods, which has been sourcing rice for over 140 years, was acquired in 2015 by the Marbour Group, an international group with annual revenues of approximately €300 million ($348 million). The company currently supplies retail partners including Walmart and Safeway with private-label microwaveable rice and meal pouches.

Source: Dainty Foods (via PR Newswire) / Just Food