Canadian rice producer to build first US facility

WINDSOR, ONT. — Les Aliments Dainty Foods (or Dainty Rice), a Canadian rice producer owned by the Marbour Group, will build its first manufacturing plant in the United States.

Located in Batavia, Ohio, the 250,000-square-foot facility will use automation to enhance efficiency, product quality and supply chain performance, according to the company. Much of the facility’s equipment is intended for optimized logistics such as a dedicated rail spur, three inbound loading bays for raw materials, and six outbound bays to support finished goods distribution throughout the United States.

Once fully operational, the facility will expand the production capacity of Dainty in North America and is expected to produce up to 250 million units annually, manufacturing retort pouches and expanding into cups and bowls to meet growing US consumer demand for convenient meal solutions, Dainty said.

“This investment marks a transformative milestone in Dainty’s growth strategy,” said James Maitland, chief executive officer of Les Aliments Dainty Foods Inc. “Establishing Dainty USA LLC strengthens our presence in the US market, increases production capacity with world-class automation, and brings innovative, convenient meal solutions closer to American consumers. The site was chosen for its Midwest supply chain strength, workforce, infrastructure, and business-friendly environment. We are proud to invest in the Batavia community, and excited to offer US produced goods. We look forward to building a strong, long-term partnership in the region.”

Dainty said the facility’s production will ramp up in phases, with phase one scheduled to be operational in the first quarter of 2027. The company also said it would initially invest $85 million in the facility, leading to a total project investment of up to $150 million over the course of five years.