Dainty Foods, a Canadian branded and private-label supplier of packaged rice products, is setting up its first manufacturing unit in the US.
The subsidiary of the France-based Marbour Group has picked Batavia Township in Ohio to build the 250,000 square-foot facility. The project will entail an initial investment of $85m, rising to $150m over five years, according to a statement.
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Around 240 jobs will be created at the plant once fully operational, with the first phase of production set to come on stream in the first quarter of 2027.
Acquired by Marbour in 2015, Dainty Foods already supplies the US market. Its portfolio consists of raw packaged rice such as basmati and jasmine, along with rice-based flavoured side dishes and baking mixes.
The Ohio site will produce private-label rice pouches, with plans to add rice cups and bowls to meet the “growing US consumer demand” for convenient meal solutions.
Once fully operational, the facility is expected to manufacture up to 250 million units per year.
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By GlobalDataDainty Foods CEO James Maitland said: “This investment marks a transformative milestone in Dainty’s growth strategy.
“Establishing Dainty USA strengthens our presence in the US market, increases production capacity with world-class automation, and brings innovative, convenient meal solutions closer to American consumers.”
The site will also feature three inbound loading bays for raw materials, and six outbound bays for distribution of finished goods across the US.
Dainty Foods said the plant will use “advanced technology and automation” to improve “efficiency, product quality, and supply chain performance”.
The company’s retail customers include Walmart, Sobeys and Safeway, according to its website.
Marbour attracted investment from private-equity firms in 2024. Cerea Partners, Société Générale Capital Partenaires and BNP Paribas Développement took a minority stake in the business.
While financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, Marbour was generating annual revenue of around €300m ($348.2m today) at the time.
As well as Dainty Foods, Marbour has other subsidiaries. Soboriz makes the Le Forban rice brand while Craf supplies the Riz Craf line. It also owns UK-based FEI Foods, which produces microwaveable rice pouches, rice snack pots and porridge pots.
