Gov. Tony Evers joined Kikkoman Chairman and honorary CEO Yuzaburo Mogi, representatives from Kikkoman Corp., and Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. (WEDC) Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes, as well as local elected leaders and stakeholders, for a groundbreaking ceremony for Kikkoman Foods Inc.’s (KFI) new manufacturing and production facility in Jefferson, according to a recent press release.
Kikkoman is investing more than $560 million to build the facility, and together with an additional nearly $250 million expansion effort at the company’s existing facility in Walworth, the projects are expected to create at least 83 new high-paying jobs in Wisconsin over the next 12 years. To support this over $800 million, large-scale development effort, WEDC will award up to $15.5 million in performance-based tax credits to assist the company in expanding its operations statewide.
According to Kikkoman, the new 240,000-square-foot KFI facility is on a 100-acre lot on what will be the 200-acre food and beverage innovation campus. The facility will produce soy sauce and soy-related seasonings, with the first shipments of soy sauce planned for fall 2026. The plant will be fully integrated and highly automated using mobile technology and has been designed for flexibility, speed, efficiency, and scalability. The facility will also reduce CO2 emissions by installing energy-efficient equipment, minimizing waste, and proactively using renewable energy.
