Riviana Foods Inc. announced today its investment of $80.6 million to expand and renovate its processing and packaging plant in Memphis, Tenn. The investment will reportedly significantly increase Riviana's production capacity for its ready-to-serve cup and pouch products and add approximately 80 new full-time jobs.

The investment will add approximately 65,000 sq. ft. to the plant and include a renovation of approximately 20,000 sq. ft., which will increase the plant's current production capacity for its Minute rice microwaveable cups and introduce new production capacity for ready to serve pouches lines of its Tilda, Carolina and Mahatma rice brands.  

"We will be in a stronger position to meet or exceed customer needs of looking for simpler, better and more nutritional food options," says Enrique Zaragoza, president and CEO of Riviana. "And, we look forward to many more years of our successful partnership between Riviana and the Memphis community with this investment."

It is the seventh expansion project at the facility since it opened in 2006. Most recently, in April 2021, Riviana invested $15 million to upgrade production and expand instant rice capacity. Demolition and construction work is expected to begin during the first quarter 2023 with new production capacity utilization starting in the first quarter 2024.