A Japanese probiotic beverage company recently announced it will establish operations in the Peach State by building a production facility at a Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development (GRAD) Certified site in Cartersville.
Yakult U.S.A. was formed in 1990, and its first product manufacturing facility in the U.S. was established in California in 2014. The company currently distributes Yakult, one of the world’s leading probiotic beverages, in the U.S. and Canadian markets.
Just in time to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Georgia's Japan office, @GovKemp and @YakultUSA today announced the company will create 90 new jobs in Bartow County. Learn more: https://t.co/pvRTcXXtvJ pic.twitter.com/Zj9aChmQTm
— Georgia, USA (@gdecd) July 18, 2023
The company’s new production facility will be located at Highland 75 Corporate/Industrial Park, which is about 45 minutes northwest of Atlanta.
The company, according to the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), will be hiring for full-time managers and assistants, including staff positions in human resources, machine operation and maintenance, quality control, and warehouse roles.
Yakult’s investment in the Peach State is valued at approximately $305 million and is expected to create 90 new jobs in Bartow County. The new facility is expected to open in 2026.
Once open, GDEcD notes, the facility will offer free tours to the public, which “teach visitors about the benefits of probiotics and how to produce dairy products.”
Japan is one of Georgia’s leading investor nations and top trading partners, as more than 460 Japanese facilities operate in the state, according to GDEcD. In 2022, the department notes, trade between Georgia and Japan totaled more than $9.7 billion, placing Japan as the state’s 6th top market for total trade.
“We could not choose a better opportunity to celebrate 50 years of continuous representation in Japan than by adding Yakult to our business community,” GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson said in a statement. “Georgia’s international offices act as a bridge connecting Georgia to strategic markets to facilitate trade, investment, and tourism opportunities. This news is another example of how the partnerships built by the Japan Office have contributed to job creation in Georgia’s manufacturing, food processing, and automotive industries across the state.”
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Georgia Star News and The Star News Network.
Photo “Yakult Drink” by Dezzawong. CC BY-SA 3.0.
