Kikkoman Foods Inc. (KFI), Kikkoman Corporation’s wholly owned U.S. manufacturing subsidiary headquartered in Walworth, Wisconsin, will operate the new plant. The company scheduled a grand opening ceremony for September 18, 2026, as it prepared to begin commercial shipments from the facility.
Construction of the Jefferson plant began in April 2024, and soy sauce brewing operations commenced in May 2026. The company expects to begin shipping products from the facility in October 2026, adding manufacturing capacity to its established North American production network.
The plant occupies a 100-acre site, equivalent to about 405,000 square meters, and includes about 240,000 square feet of total floor space. The steel-frame facility will produce soy sauce and soy sauce-related seasonings, with capabilities designed to accommodate a range of products tailored to customer needs.
Kikkoman’s planned investment of approximately $560 million, or ¥80 billion, over a 10-year period reflects its commitment to expanding manufacturing capacity in North America, which represents the largest market in the company’s overseas business. The investment figure represents the company’s longer-term spending plan rather than an amount already invested at the time of the opening.
The Jefferson facility becomes Kikkoman’s third production plant in the United States, joining its existing operations in Walworth, Wisconsin, and Folsom, California.
Kikkoman’s Walworth plant began commercial shipments in June 1973, establishing the company’s first U.S. manufacturing operation. The company subsequently expanded its American production network with its Folsom plant, which began shipments in October 1998.
The addition of Jefferson represents Kikkoman’s first new U.S. manufacturing location in nearly three decades. It also becomes the Kikkoman Group’s ninth soy sauce production base outside Japan, further expanding its international manufacturing footprint.
The new facility will help meet rising demand for soy sauce in North America, where the company has reported steadily increasing shipments from its existing Walworth headquarters plant.
By adding production capacity in Wisconsin, Kikkoman intends to strengthen its supply infrastructure while expanding its ability to manufacture different products for customers throughout the region.
The additional plant also provides greater manufacturing capacity within the company’s largest overseas market, complementing its existing operations in Wisconsin and California.
Kikkoman Foods Inc. was established in March 1972 and is wholly owned by Kikkoman Corporation. The subsidiary reported 274 employees as of March 31, 2026, including 218 employees at its Walworth facility and 38 at its Folsom plant.
Ryohei Tsuji, President and Chief Operating Officer of Kikkoman Foods Inc., leads the company’s U.S. operations.
The expansion forms part of Kikkoman’s broader international growth strategy under Global Vision 2030, established in 2018. One of the strategy’s central objectives is to establish Kikkoman Soy Sauce as a truly global seasoning by expanding its availability and adapting its offerings to different markets.
The Jefferson plant will support that objective by increasing the company’s manufacturing capacity in a market that has become central to its international business.
Kikkoman has also emphasized its commitment to maintaining strong relationships with the communities in which it operates. The new facility expands its longstanding manufacturing presence in Wisconsin, where it has maintained U.S. production operations for more than 50 years.
With brewing operations already underway and shipments scheduled to begin in October, the Jefferson plant adds a production base for Kikkoman as it pursues further growth in North America and strengthens its global supply network.
