Maruchan to add 50 jobs in Chesterfield

A new manufacturing line from Maruchan Virginia Inc., a Chesterfield County-based ramen soup and noodles manufacturer, will mean 50 new jobs for the region.

The $18 million project, announced yesterday at the county Board of Supervisors meeting, will bring the number of manufacturing lines at the Chesterfield facility to nine.

"Chesterfield County continues to offer a number of amenities and opportunities for the continued success of our business," said Maruchan Vice President and General Manager Nobuhide Kaneshige.

Owned by Japanese company Toyo Suisan Kaisha Ltd., Maruchan is located in the Chesterfield County Airport Industrial Park and was founded in 1989. Since that time, the company has completed numerous expansions, growing to more than 500,000 square feet and about 420 employees as of last year.

"We have had this one in our sights for some time; we knew it was coming," said County Administrator James J.L. Stegmaier. "This is a very significant project for the county at a time like this."

"Chesterfield County appreciates the substantial capital investment made by Maruchan Virginia Inc. and the employment opportunities that have been created here," said Board of Supervisors Chairman A.S. "Art" Warren.

Maruchan's was the second significant announcement of new jobs for the county in a week.

Bon Secours last week announced plans to build a $30 million ambulatory-care campus in the county at the Watkins Centre development, bringing 100 new jobs. The first phase is expected to open in 2011.

"Even as this economy is a tough one and we have some very difficult fiscal issues facing us, we are continuing to keep economic development at the top of the list of priorities," Stegmaier said. "Because we truly believe that growing jobs and putting people back to work is the way out."

Contact Wesley P. Hester at (804) 649-6976 or .