Plans for Schwan’s Company to build a 700,000 square-foot production facility in Sioux Falls took a step forward this week, company spokespeople said.

On Thursday, Schwan’s announced the purchase of 142 acres of land at Sioux Falls’ Foundation Park. The production facility will make Asian-style foods.

Schwan’s, a subsidiary of South Korea-based CJ Foods, first announced plans for the Sioux Falls plant in 2021. The facility is projected to add more than 600 new employees, Schwan’s said. This week, the company announced it is also planning to open a regional office in Sioux Falls to support continued expansion and operations at the new plant.

Initial plans for the regional office will add 50 jobs, with the potential to grow up to 100 once the production facility is finished, the announcement said.

A Schwan’s spokesperson said Friday that the South Dakota project will not affect the company’s operations or offices in Marshall.

The new manufacturing facility will produce Asian-style foods for Schwan’s bibigo Korean food brand, including froze and shelf-stable meals, side dishes, snacks and appetizers. Schwan’s said the new manufacturing campus will include a warehouse and distribution center.

In a news release, Schwan’s executives said the company worked with both the state of South Dakota and the city of Sioux Falls to design a wastewater treatment facility for the new production site.

“We thank all state and local officials in South Dakota for helping us make great progress on this project, which will ultimately help us meet the needs of our retail and food service customers,” said Schwan’s outgoing CEO Dimitrios P. Smyrnios. “This project will create significant new production capacity for Schwan’s, enabling us to continue to support our market-share leading bibigo brand and drive future innovation and growth in the Asian food category. I want to personally thank Governor Kristi Noem and her team for their leadership and commitment to our plans. Without her unwavering support, this project would not be possible.”

“Our investment in this world-class Asian-style food plant in South Dakota will help us strengthen our position in one of the fastest growing food categories in the United States,” said incoming Schwan’s CEO Brian Schiegg. “We look forward to continuing our work with state and local officials to build a facility that will benefit the residents of South Dakota as well as our family of businesses.”

“The U.S. market continues to deliver high growth for CJ Foods and the ability to continue to scale our portfolio of products to meet the growing consumer demand is vitally important to our strategy,” said CJ Foods CEO Minsok Pak.

“This facility will enable us to further accelerate the growth of K-Food and other Asian cuisines. We appreciate the support from local and state officials and look forward to contributing to our new home in South Dakota.”