PIERRE, S.D. – On May 31st, Governor Kristi Noem announced that Schwan’s Company, a subsidiary of CJ Foods, is making a further investment in South Dakota.

“South Dakota just keeps growing. Our ‘Open for Business’ mindset is transforming our state into an economic powerhouse,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “We have the lowest unemployment rate in America, our peoples’ paychecks are soaring, and with high-caliber companies like Schwan’s joining our winning workforce, there’s no slowing down now.”

In her 2021 State of the State Address, Governor Noem announced that Schwan’s and CJ Foods would be “building a world-class facility, the most high-tech facility of its kind in the world. At the time, Governor Noem announced it as “the largest project in the history of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development.” At that time, the plan was for a $500 million dollar investment and 600 new employees.

In addition to the previously-announced 700,000 square foot manufacturing plant, Schwan’s is announcing plans to open a regional office in downtown Sioux Falls to support its continued expansion and operations at the new manufacturing facility. Initial plans for the regional office will add 50 high-paying jobs, with the potential to grow up to 100 jobs once the production facility is complete.

"We thank all state and local officials in South Dakota for helping us make great progress on this project, which will ultimately help us meet the needs of our retail and food service customers," said Schwan's outgoing CEO Dimitrios P. Smyrnios. "This project will create significant new production capacity for Schwan's, enabling us to continue to support our market-share leading bibigo brand and drive future innovation and growth in the Asian food category. I want to personally thank Governor Kristi Noem and her team for their leadership and commitment to our plans. Without her unwavering support, this project would not be possible. It's clear to me that the 'State of South Dakota is open for business.'"

The new manufacturing facility will produce Asian food using state-of-the-art automated production lines. The facility will be largest Asian food production facility in North America. 

“When we began working with Schwan’s several years ago, we didn’t know that the project would grow to this magnitude,” stated Deputy Commissioner Chris Schilken. “It’s been the leadership of Governor Noem and the willingness of Schwan’s to see South Dakota’s advantages that have brought us to this announcement.”

The company has also worked with the State of South Dakota and City of Sioux Falls to design a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility that will be built by Schwan's Company on the new manufacturing site. The wastewater treatment facility will enable the company to discharge water to the city with the least amount of impact on the city's current operations.