For the last month, Christian County has been abuzz about the new jobs announcement around Kitchen Food Company, an Australia-founded premium ready-meals business that will locate a new world-class prepared foods facility in Hopkinsville behind a $69 million investment creating 925 quality ongoing Kentucky jobs.
During his Thursday “Team Kentucky” update, Beshear noted the project will see the company establish an ultra-modern manufacturing facility in Hopkinsville, its first operation in the United States, located in a 100,000-square-foot facility.
Construction and building renovations are expected to begin early in 2025 and will be completed in the summer of 2026. The 925 jobs created will include operations and production managers, HR managers, accountants, technical managers, engineers, supervisors, machine operators, forklift drivers and process and warehouse operatives.
In a written statement, Kitchen Food Co. co-founder and CEO Christian Avramides said they chose Hopkinsville due to the “proactive support and dedication of the local community leadership, coupled with the quality produce, excellent workforce and central location, and that the company is honored to join forces with the wonderful people of Kentucky as they start this new chapter, bringing flavorful, nutritious and affordable meal options to American families, made fresh daily in Kentucky.”
Kitchen Food Co. was founded in 2002 in Sydney, Australia, and is a family-owned and -operated quality food business that has been at the forefront of providing nutritious, convenient and affordable ready meals to the Australian market since inception.
In another written statement, Christian County Judge/Executive Jerry Gilliam said his community is “always eager to welcome new ag-related industries,” and that this is a proud partnership with the Governor’s office, Cabinet for Economic Development, TVA, city of Hopkinsville, Hopkinsville Community College and regional planning and workforce partners to secure the company’s investment.
Hopkinsville Mayor James R. Knight also noted that their choice to locate in Hopkinsville is “further validation” that Christian County is “a great place to do business with low taxes and an affordable cost of living.”
Carter Hendricks, executive director of the Southwestern Kentucky Economic Development Council, said the company is set to purchase the 100,000-square-foot shell building in Hopkinsville’s Commerce Park for their first U.S. based facility, and that their investment will mark the region’s first Australian, and 24th, international company.
