CJ Schwan’s, a leading U.S. food producer and one of the fastest-growing global cuisine companies, announced Sept. 8 its pledge of $250,000 to Forward Sioux Falls, while opening the doors to the new company office building in downtown Sioux Falls.
The 12,000-square-foot office is inside the River Centre building. To mark the occasion, CJ Schwan’s illuminated its exterior sign, located on the fifth floor, for the first time. The new signage will be aglow nightly, visible to evening drivers from the 10th Street overpass downtown.
CJ Schwan’s downtown office will eventually house 50 employees to support CJ Schwan’s Asian food production facility at Foundation Park. Once the manufacturing plant is complete, the office could grow to support more than 100 jobs.
The office space features a modern work area in addition to collaborative work spaces, conference rooms and a commercial kitchen for future sampling events with customers.
“Today represents more than the opening of a new office — it’s a bold step into the future and a meaningful investment in the Sioux Falls community,” said Brian Schiegg, CEO of CJ Schwan’s. “Our team here is focused on launching a state-of-the-art food production facility that will accelerate the growth of our bibigo brand and deliver solutions to our foodservice customers.”
Investing in Sioux Falls
The $250,000 pledge to Forward Sioux Falls, a collaborative program between the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce and the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, will be used to support workforce and economic development initiatives for the city.
Since its founding in 1987, Forward Sioux Falls campaigns have raised more than $69 million to “move Sioux Falls forward,” according to its website.
The 2021-2026 program is projected to generate a $13.27 return on investment (ROI) for the private sector and a $9.28 ROI for the public sector.
CJ Schwan’s broke ground on its $500-million production facility in November 2024 on its 142-acre site at Foundation Park, one of Sioux Falls’ “biggest selling points” and the state’s first economic development “mega site,” according to Forward Sioux Falls.
What’s next?
Currently under construction, the food production plant is expected to bring 600 new full-time jobs in producing bibigo dumplings (the No. 1 Korean-style food brand in the U.S. and 103rd largest retail food brand overall), Asian-style snacks and appetizers for the Pagoda brand and egg rolls for both food-service customers and retail brands across the U.S., according to the Sept. 8 press release from CJ Schwan’s.
Construction crews have completed the placement of most of the production facility’s walls and are working to enclose the production space by the end of the year, the press release stated. To date, more than 50% of the construction contracts associated with the project have been awarded to local contractors, totaling more than $75 million.
The new facility will initially include two state-of-the-art food production lines, a warehouse, a distribution center, a wastewater treatment plant, shipping and receiving docks, additional office space and room for potential expansion.
The project is anticipated to be complete by 2027.
Vanessa Carlson Bender is the real estate and development reporter for the Sioux Falls Argus Leader. Reach her at [email protected].
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