JTM Food Group broke ground today on a new manufacturing plant at its headquarters in Harrison, Ohio. The new facility will increase capacity, as JTM continues to expand its reach into schools, restaurants, military and government organizations, food distributors and retailers throughout North America.

The new 193,000-square-foot facility will be supported by a state-of-the-art distribution center. Construction on the distribution center began in August 2016.

“This new facility is an exciting step forward for our company and a direct reflection of the passion and dedication of our employees,” says Tony Maas, president. “Our team is committed to innovation and growth, and that approach is creating more and more opportunity for JTM to flourish. Being a national leader in the school foodservice and foodservice distribution industries, it is vital to continue to stay ahead of trends and opportunities. This new facility will give us the capacity to meet the needs of our growing national customer base. The expansion will also help us continue to provide the highest standard of quality products and services for years to come.”

With a smoother, more efficient production line, JTM’s new facility is expected to produce nearly 1.8 million pounds of additional “kettle” products (burrito fillings, mac and cheese, sauces, dips, soups, chili, etc.) each week. Once the new plant is completed, JTM will have the initial capacity to produce an additional 90 million pounds of “kettle”-cooked product annually, with additional capacity readily available.

The new facility will feature state-of-the-art technology that will both increase production speed and improve safety.

“This expansion will not only benefit JTM’s national customer base, but will positively impact our local community as well,” adds Maas. “Our family-run business has been a part of the Harrison community and Greater Cincinnati for decades, and this new investment only deepens our roots here. We’re truly blessed and grateful for this opportunity to grow, as it will benefit our employees, family, customers and community.”