MarfoFMA, a subsidiary of the French agri-food giant Fleury Michon Group, is set to establish its first production facility in the United States. The company is investing over $37 million to transform the former White Castle distribution site located in South Covington, Kentucky.
This new factory will focus on manufacturing frozen meals primarily for airline clients, as outlined in a recent announcement. MarfoFMA’s strategy aims to ensure reliable service across Europe, the United States, and Canada, reinforcing its position in the food and beverage industry.
Notably, the project is expected to create 78 full-time jobs, contributing significantly to local employment. Fleury Michon, established in 1905 in France, ventured into the airline catering sector by acquiring Quebec-based FMA in 2006, followed by the acquisition of Netherlands-based Marfo in 2019. These strategic moves culminated in the establishment of MarfoFMA, positioning the group as a key player in the global airline catering market.
Arnaud Prévéraud, the North America area manager for MarfoFMA, commented on this milestone: “This represents an important milestone for the family-owned Fleury Michon Group and its international catering business. Through this investment, we will be able to add additional capacity to our North American operations, which are currently served exclusively by FMA based in Quebec. We intend to train our local teams in Covington to establish our expertise for the long term, benefiting our airline customers departing from U.S. airports.”
Additionally, Just Food has reached out to MarfoFMA to inquire about the timeline for the completion of the South Covington plant and the anticipated start of production.
On December 1, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) announced preliminary approval for a ten-year incentive package through the Kentucky Business Investment program, potentially offering up to $1.5 million in performance-based tax incentives. Moreover, KEDFA approved up to $200,000 in additional tax incentives via the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act.
Governor Andy Beshear remarked, “Today’s announcement is a great reminder that Kentucky’s economic momentum is not only going strong but that the commonwealth is open and ready for companies from all over the world to establish their New Kentucky Home.”
Interestingly, in June 2024, Fleury Michon sold its entire stake in the Spanish ready-meals venture Platos Tradicionales for €68 million (approximately $73 million) to its partner Familia MartÃnez. Subsequently, in November, the company also announced the sale of its “meal trays” business in Ile de France to Kumo, a local producer of Japanese street food.
This investment in the U.S. production facility indicates MarfoFMA’s commitment to adapting to evolving food and drink consumer trends, expanding its footprint in the highly competitive food and drink business landscape.
