"This groundbreaking marks a significant milestone for InnovAsian and Nichirei as we invest in the future of Jonesboro, Arkansas and strengthen our ability to meet growing consumer demand," says Joe Kent, president and CEO of InnovAsian. "This facility will accelerate our future growth with the production of high-quality Asian cuisine while creating meaningful jobs in the community."

Gray will deliver the project using its fully integrated design-build approach under one team. Throughout the pursuit process, Gray worked closely with InnovAsian to understand the company's priorities around cost, schedule and long-term operational goals.

"The strongest partnerships are built over time, and we're honored InnovAsian entrusted Gray with this important milestone," says Brett Goode, executive vice president, Food & Beverage Market, Gray. "This project reflects years of shared trust and a commitment to understanding our customer's goals. We look forward to helping bring InnovAsian's vision to life and supporting its continued growth."

The facility represents a significant step in InnovAsian's long-term growth strategy, expanding domestic protein processing capabilities and strengthening supply chain resiliency to support growing demand across retail, foodservice, and prepared foods channels.

More than 100 team members are expected to be on site at peak construction, while the facility is expected to create approximately 200 new jobs. The project is set to be complete by spring 2028