Arkansas has an abundance of resources to help food processing companies succeed. The Arkansas Economic Development Commission works directly with food processing companies looking to start-up, expand or relocate. In addition, we assist companies with finding the best incentives so companies are able to make money quickly and efficiently.
There were 522 food and beverage companies in Arkansas at the end of 2022. These companies employed 55,130 people. Arkansas is home to Tyson Foods and numerous other food processing facilities, including Nestle, JBS USA, Kraft Heinz, Mars Inc., Cargill Inc., Hormel Foods Corp, Riceland Foods, Pilgrim’s Pride, ConAgra Brands Inc., Land O’ Frost and Frito-Lay, Inc.
Arkansas has the 5th largest percentage of food processing workers in the United States. The growth rate of the food and beverage industry from 2017 to 2022 was 6 percent in Arkansas.
The food processing industry is booming in Arkansas and continues to grow exponentially. Eight of the top 10 food and beverage companies by revenue in the world have manufacturing facilities in the state.
Arkansas is meeting the workforce needs for food processing companies. The state now has the second-largest number of food processing workers in the US and Arkansas has responded to industry growth by modernizing the workforce.
Danny Games, executive vice president of global business for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, and Mark Hamer, director of AEDC’s business development for Asia, recently returned from a trade mission to Japan.
They met with Neal Jansen, head of Arkansas’ Japan Office, and several Japanese companies with locations in Arkansas including Hino Motors Manufacturing (Marion), Denso Manufacturing, Bridgestone (Russellville and Prescott), Yamato Kogyo (Mississippi County and Newport) and Tokusen (Conway).
Arkansas has had a representative office in Japan since 1985. The Japan Office promotes FDI in Japan, the Republic of South Korea, India and countries in Southeast Asia by visiting potential industry prospects, working with AEDC staff on active projects, organizing investment presentations, and researching and analyzing the recently-evolved Japanese outbound economy to guide a shift in state strategy for automotive, advanced manufacturing, aviation/aerospace, green and sustainable building products and technology recruitment.
Japan plays a significant role in the Arkansas economy. There are 18 Japanese companies with 20 locations in Arkansas employing approximately 5,300 workers. Japanese manufacturers in Arkansas produce heating and refrigeration equipment, steel and automotive parts. In 2015, Japan was Arkansas’ third-largest export destination (behind Canada and Mexico) with $532 million value (about 9.1 percent of Arkansas’ exports).
