Nissin Foods invests US$228M in new U.S. plant amidst soaring ramen demand

USA- In response to “unprecedented demand” for its popular noodle offerings, ramen maker Nissin Foods is set to invest US$228 million in expanding its U.S. presence. 

The Japan-based company aims to enhance its U.S. manufacturing capability by acquiring a 640,640-square-foot building in Greenville County, South Carolina, signaling a significant step to meet the surging market demand.

The new facility, anticipated to be operational by August 2025, is expected to generate over 300 new jobs. Currently, Nissin operates manufacturing locations in Gardena, California, and Lancaster, Pennsylvania. 

The latest investment aligns with a broader trend in the food and beverage industry, where companies are strategically building, retrofitting, or expanding facilities to enhance efficiency and accommodate growing demand for their products.

Nissin has experienced robust growth, attributed first to pandemic-driven demand and subsequently to the popularity of premium and spicy offerings, such as Cup Noodles Hot & Spicy and Stir Fry flavors. The company reported holding a 40% share of the instant ramen segment in the U.S. earlier this year.

With four consecutive quarters of high double-digit growth, marked by a 27% increase in sales at the end of the first quarter in 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, Nissin Foods is capitalizing on the momentum. 

Michael Price, Nissin Foods’s president and CEO, expressed the significance of the investment, stating, “This investment will allow us to optimize production capabilities, grow the organization, bring jobs to the community, and continue to fortify our innovation pipeline.”

The new facility in South Carolina will manufacture a range of Nissin Foods’ products, including Top Ramen, Cup Noodles, and Hot & Spicy FIRE WOK, among others. The company emphasizes its commitment to environmental responsibility, incorporating features such as solar panels, EV charging stations, and electric forklifts in the plant. Nissin Foods aims to reduce its CO2 emissions by 30% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

This investment follows Nissin’s recent multi-million dollar investment in its Lancaster, Pennsylvania distribution center earlier this year, which increased output by 15%. 

As numerous companies respond to heightened demand by investing in production capacity, Nissin Foods joins the ranks of industry leaders such as PepsiCo, Keurig Dr Pepper, J.M. Smucker, Ferrero, Coca-Cola, Mondelēz International, Kraft Heinz, and Nestlé.