WEDC will provide up to $15.5 million in performance-based tax incentives to support Kikkoman’s $800 million total investment in Wisconsin, creating more than 80 high-paying jobs and bolstering economic opportunities in Southeastern Wisconsin

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today joined Kikkoman Chairman and honorary CEO Yuzaburo Mogi, representatives from the Kikkoman Corporation, and Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) Secretary and CEO John W. Miller, as well as local leaders and stakeholders, in celebrating the grand opening of Kikkoman Foods Inc.’s (KFI) newest production facility in Jefferson. The Jefferson facility represents an investment of approximately $560 million over 10 years. With the addition of this new manufacturing plant and in conjunction with the company’s Walworth facilities, KFI is investing a total of more than $800 million to bring more than 80 high-paying jobs in Southeastern Wisconsin.

“For more than 50 years, Kikkoman has shown Japanese business leaders that Wisconsin is a place where international companies can succeed, build trusted partnerships, and become valued members of their communities,” said Gov. Evers. “Kikkoman is one of our finest examples of what such a partnership can accomplish, and we look forward to growing together for many more decades to come.”

“For over 350 years, we have earned the trust and loyalty of consumers through our sauces and seasonings, fueling our growth in North America,” said Chairman Mogi. “Our partnership with Wisconsin has long been central to our success, and Jefferson is the natural next chapter. This facility gives us proximity to key agricultural suppliers, access to high-quality water our brewing process demands, and a workforce rooted in the same values that have guided Kikkoman for generations. As global culinary influences continue to shape what people want on their tables, this facility also strengthens our ability to meet that evolving demand by bringing the depth and authenticity of international flavors to more people, faster.”

“Kikkoman—like Wisconsin—is identified with excellence around the world,” said WEDC Secretary and CEO John W. Miller. “Their decision to continue growing here reaffirms our state’s reputation not only as a global leader in the field of food and beverage production, but a center of innovation and state-of-the-art manufacturing. WEDC is honored to partner with them as we embark on this new course together.”

Kikkoman has played a vital role in Wisconsin’s economy for more than half a century. In 1973, with the opening of KFI in Walworth, the plant made history as one of the first production facilities built in the United States by a Japanese company, which has since become the Kikkoman Group’s highest-producing soy sauce facility in the world.

In 1998, Kikkoman opened a second production facility in Folsom, California. As demand for Kikkoman® Soy Sauce and other sauces and seasonings continues to grow in North America, the company spent the last several years conducting a nationwide search to identify the ideal location for a third manufacturing facility. Choosing from among 64 Midwestern locations, Kikkoman ultimately selected a 100-acre site in Jefferson as the location for its newest facility.

The Jefferson plant is KFI’s third U.S. production facility and expands Kikkoman’s ability to meet growing demand across retail, foodservice, and food manufacturing channels throughout North America. . The plant is expected to begin shipping products later this fall.

In support of the project, WEDC has committed up to $15.5 million in performance-based Enterprise Zone tax credits to fuel job creation and capital investment benchmarks. The amount of credits the company receives is contingent on the amount of capital invested and the number of jobs created. KFI is also working with regional workforce development and technical education partners to support hiring and training for advanced food manufacturing careers.

Along with its manufacturing plants in Walworth, Wisconsin, and Folsom, California, the new Jefferson facility will produce a range of Kikkoman products, including soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, and non-soy sauce-related seasonings for retail, foodservice, and food manufacturing customers. The 240,000-square-foot building is a state-of-the-art facility featuring a highly flexible manufacturing layout capable of handling multiple products, viscosities, and packaging formats, including glass, BPA-free plastic, industrial, and bulk sizing.

The facility also incorporates advanced digital manufacturing tools that enable paperless operations, real-time data visualization, and enhanced traceability. These measures support KFI’s commitment to reduce CO2 emissions by more than 50 percent, reduce water consumption per unit by more than 30 percent, and achieve a 100 percent recycling rate by 2030 as part of the company’s long-term environmental strategy.

KFI’s investment in Jefferson builds on the company’s longstanding commitment to community impact and responsible corporate citizenship. KFI has contributed more than $17 million in charitable donations to educational platforms, civic organizations, community charities, disaster relief efforts, and environmental protection organizations in Jefferson and beyond, including $250,000 to Jefferson County for native prairie restoration in honor of the grand opening.

The Kikkoman facility in Jefferson will anchor the city’s Food and Beverage Innovation Campus, a 165-acre industrial park for food and beverage manufacturers. Gov. Evers thanked city and county officials and the Thrive Economic Development organization for their collaboration with Kikkoman and WEDC in making the new facility a reality.

In Wisconsin, investments from Japanese companies have been an advantage for the state and local economies, leading to the establishment of manufacturing facilities, research and development centers, and corporate offices. There are over 80 Japanese companies throughout Wisconsin, and this robust collaboration has created over 10,200 jobs, invigorating the state’s economy and elevating Wisconsin’s position in the global market. Since 2003, Japan has invested over $4.2 billion in Wisconsin, making it the second-largest investor in the state after Canada. 

An online version of this release is available here.