Food Plant Openings and Expansions Across the U.S. in February 2026

New facilities and upgrades for hummus, frozen foods, charcuterie, baked goods, and functional mushrooms

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Food Engineering magazine's editor-in-chief Alyse Thompson-Richards recaps several recent plant openings and expansions in the food and beverage industry, including a new hummus factory for Little Sesame in Maryland, a frozen food facility for InnovAsian in an undisclosed location, an innovation center for Charcuterie Artisans in Rhode Island, an expansion project for BRIDOR in Vineland, New Jersey, an innovation center for M2 Ingredients in an unspecified location, and a new production facility for Boh Bah in Mount Vernon, Missouri.

Why it matters

These investments in new and upgraded food production facilities demonstrate continued growth and innovation across multiple food categories, from plant-based hummus to frozen Asian cuisine to artisanal charcuterie. The expansions allow these companies to increase their manufacturing capacity and develop new products to meet evolving consumer demands.

The details

Little Sesame's new factory in Maryland will increase its annual hummus production capacity from 4 million pounds to a projected 20 million pounds. InnovAsian's parent company Nichirei is contributing $105 million to build a new frozen food facility. Charcuterie Artisans opened an innovation center in Rhode Island to support product development and partner with brands. BRIDOR expanded its Vineland, New Jersey plant to add Viennese pastry production and new refrigeration. M2 Ingredients opened an R&D facility for its functional mushroom products. Boh Bah launched a 50,000-sq.-ft. FDA-registered production plant in Mount Vernon, Missouri.

  • The new Little Sesame factory will increase production capacity.
  • Nichirei is contributing $105 million to build InnovAsian's new frozen food facility.
  • Charcuterie Artisans opened its new innovation center in Rhode Island.
  • BRIDOR's Vineland, New Jersey expansion project broke ground in fall 2024.
  • M2 Ingredients opened its new Center of Innovation facility.

The players

Little Sesame

A hummus producer that is opening a new factory in Maryland to significantly increase its production capacity.

InnovAsian

A frozen Asian cuisine brand that is building a new production facility with funding from its parent company Nichirei.

Charcuterie Artisans

A charcuterie company that has opened an innovation center in Rhode Island to support product development and partnerships.

BRIDOR

A baked goods manufacturer that is expanding its Vineland, New Jersey plant to add Viennese pastry production and new refrigeration.

M2 Ingredients

A company that has opened a new R&D facility for its functional mushroom products.

Boh Bah

A food producer that has launched a new 50,000-sq.-ft. FDA-registered production plant in Mount Vernon, Missouri.

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The takeaway

These investments in new and upgraded food production facilities demonstrate the continued growth and innovation across multiple food categories, from plant-based hummus to frozen Asian cuisine to artisanal charcuterie. The expansions allow these companies to increase their manufacturing capacity and develop new products to meet evolving consumer demands.