Kikkoman Foods, Inc. (KFI), the US manufacturing arm of the soy sauce brand, celebrated the official grand opening of its newest production facility in Jefferson, Wisc., which begins shipping product in fall 2026. The Jefferson plant represents KFI’s third US production facility and expands Kikkoman’s ability to meet growing demand across retail, foodservice and food manufacturing channels throughout North America.
“Kikkoman has been a valued partner in Wisconsin for more than fifty years,” Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, said in a statement. “This new facility in Jefferson is a testament to the strength of that relationship and speaks to what makes Wisconsin a destination for world-class manufacturers — a skilled and dedicated workforce, a thriving agricultural economy, and a business climate built for long-term growth. We are proud to welcome this next chapter of Kikkoman’s presence in our state and look forward to the opportunities it will create for Jefferson and the entire region.”
With manufacturing plants in Walworth, Wisc., and Folsom, Calif., 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 240,000sq-ft 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.
Located within Jefferson’s planned Food & Beverage Innovation Campus, 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%, reduce water consumption per unit by more than 30%, and achieve a 100% recycling rate by 2030 as part of the company’s long term environmental strategy.
“For over 350 years, we have earned the trust and loyalty of consumers through our sauces and seasonings, fueling our growth in North America,” Yuzaburo Mogi, director chairman of the board and honorary CEO, KFI, said in a statement. “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.”
The Jefferson facility represents an investment of approximately $560 million over 10 years. With the addition of this new manufacturing plant and in conjuncture with the Walworth facilities, KFI brings more than 80 high-paying jobs in southeastern Wisconsin. In support of the project, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation has committed up to $15.5 million in performance-based tax credits to fuel job creation and capital investment benchmarks. KFI is also working with regional workforce development and technical education partners to support hiring and training for advanced food manufacturing careers.
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 a new $250K to Jefferson County for native prairie restoration in honor of the grand opening.
Kikkoman’s soy sauce business in North America has continued to grow at an average annual rate of more than 6% over the past decade. In the US, the company has held the leading share of the soy sauce market for more than a decade, and the Jefferson facility supports KFI’s broader strategy to expand production capacity and sustain that growth.