CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLENOW) A groundbreaking ceremony was held Tuesday morning for Japanese food condiment producer Kewpie, and its US Division, Q&B Foods, at the Clarksville-Montgomery County Corporate Business Park.
The company is investing $65.2 million to expand its subsidiary in California, Q&B Foods, and build a new food production plant in Clarksville. The Clarksville site will initially offer 85 jobs, with 55 jobs online by 2025, with an average starting pay of $25.87 per hour.
Concept drawing for the new Q&B Foods, Kewpie, facility in Clarksville. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Apr. 18, 2023. (Contributed)
Kewpie food products at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Q&B Foods, Kewpie, facility in Clarksville on Apr. 18, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Amane Nakashima speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Q&B Foods, Kewpie, facility in Clarksville on Apr. 18, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Consul-General of Japan, Yoichi Matsumoto, speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Q&B Foods, Kewpie, facility in Clarksville on Apr. 18, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Q&B Foods, Kewpie, facility in Clarksville on Apr. 18, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Groundbreaking ceremony for the new Q&B Foods, Kewpie, facility in Clarksville on Apr. 18, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Groundbreaking ceremony for the new Q&B Foods, Kewpie, facility in Clarksville on Apr. 18, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Groundbreaking ceremony for the new Q&B Foods, Kewpie, facility in Clarksville on Apr. 18, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Tennessee Economic Development Commissioner Stuart McWhorter speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Q&B Foods, Kewpie, facility in Clarksville on Apr. 18, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Groundbreaking ceremony for the new Q&B Foods, Kewpie, facility in Clarksville on Apr. 18, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Q&B Foods, Kewpie, facility in Clarksville on Apr. 18, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Mayor Wes Golden, Shea Hopkins, and Mayor Joe Pitts, at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Q&B Foods, Kewpie, facility in Clarksville on Apr. 18, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Groundbreaking ceremony for the new Q&B Foods, Kewpie, facility in Clarksville on Apr. 18, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Mayor Wes Golden, David (Buck) Dellinger, and Tsunemi Sato, at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Q&B Foods, Kewpie, facility in Clarksville on Apr. 18, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Kewpie food products at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Q&B Foods, Kewpie, facility in Clarksville on Apr. 18, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Kewpie food products at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Q&B Foods, Kewpie, facility in Clarksville on Apr. 18, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Kewpie food products at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Q&B Foods, Kewpie, facility in Clarksville on Apr. 18, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Kewpie and Q&B Foods officials at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Q&B Foods, Kewpie, facility in Clarksville on Apr. 18, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Groundbreaking ceremony for the new Q&B Foods, Kewpie, facility in Clarksville on Apr. 18, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Groundbreaking ceremony for the new Q&B Foods, Kewpie, facility in Clarksville on Apr. 18, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Groundbreaking ceremony for the new Q&B Foods, Kewpie, facility in Clarksville on Apr. 18, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Groundbreaking ceremony for the new Q&B Foods, Kewpie, facility in Clarksville on Apr. 18, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Mayor Wes Golden, Tennessee Commissioner Stuart McWhorter, Mayor Joe Pitts, at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Q&B Foods, Kewpie, facility in Clarksville on Apr. 18, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Takuya Ito at the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Q&B Foods, Kewpie, facility in Clarksville on Apr. 18, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
“We welcome the opportunity to work with Kewpie, a company with more than 60 years of quality with an exceptional reputation behind its name,” Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden said at the groundbreaking. “I know they will have a remarkable future here with us in Montgomery County.”
Jerry Shepherd, president of Q&B Foods, the US Division for Kewpie, talked about the products the company offers. “Kewpie is most known for mayonnaise, but we are also known for our salad dressings and sauces as well. If you’ve had a chance to try Kewpie mayonnaise, you’ll love it,” Shepherd said.
In Clarksville, Kewpie will produce their full line of condiments, mayonnaise, salad dressings, and sauces, he said.
Golden was joined by Tennessee Economic & Community Development Commissioner Stuart McWhorter, City of Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts, and officials from Kewpie and the Clarksville-Montgomery County Economic Development Council.
McWhorter said Clarksville-Montgomery County has seen tremendous growth over the past several years, and local leaders have taken the appropriate steps to market the region’s most valuable assets to support business and industry.
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