Richmond-based snack company expanding into Henrico, creating 60 new jobs

Richmond-based specialty snack company Red River Foods will establish a warehouse and processing facility near Richmond International Airport in Eastern Henrico County and create 60 new jobs, company and state officials announced Monday.

The company will invest $16.5 million to create the facility at 2840 Sprouse Drive, just off Airport Drive near Miller and Charles City roads. It will process tree nuts, seeds and dried fruits for distribution. Virginia competed with Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania for the project.

“We have called the Richmond region home since my father, Jim Phipps, moved the company from New York City to Virginia in 1991,” said Dan Phipps, CEO of Red River Foods. “Although we have experienced tremendous growth since that time, a majority of our personnel expansion has been concentrated in cashew-growing countries within Africa and Asia. Investing in Henrico County is further investment in our value chain. Creating valuable jobs here in our local community is one step further in connecting our farmers to our customers.”

Red River Foods serves more than 350 companies with more than 40 products sourced from 30 countries. With offices on five continents and more than 1,000 employees, the company has supplied quality tree nuts, seeds, and dried fruits to the bakery, dairy, confectionary, cereal, and snack food industries for more than 40 years.

Gov. Ralph Northam said the company's expansion was a reflection of the state's strong business climate.

“Food and beverage processing is Virginia’s second-largest manufacturing sector and one of our fastest-growing industries," he said. "Red River Foods has been based in Richmond for 30 years, and the company’s continued success here is another important testament to the Commonwealth’s status as the best place to do business.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Henrico Economic Development Authority to secure the project for Virginia. Red River Foods is eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. The company also is eligible to receive benefits from The Port of Virginia Economic and Infrastructure Development Zone Grant Program.

“We are thrilled that Red River Foods will expand its reach with the addition of warehousing capabilities at its Henrico County operation,” said Varina District Supervisor Tyrone Nelson. “The company’s strategic location provides access to markets both domestic and abroad. We wish the company great success as a contributor to Henrico’s thriving food manufacturing and processing community.”