Riviana Foods to increase production capacity of rice plant in Memphis, US

North American rice product manufacturer and marketer Riviana Foods is all set to increase the production capacity of its rice plant in Memphis, Tennessee.

The plant produces microwaveable rice products under the Minute rice brand.

In 2011, the company constructed the ready-to-serve rice plant, which was later integrated with its 400,000ft² processing and packaging plant in Memphis that started operations in 2010.

A subsidiary of Spanish food company Ebro Foods, Riviana anticipates that the capacity expansion will be completed by the fourth quarter of this year.

Riviana Foods president and CEO Bastiaan de Zeeuw said: "Part of our requirements for the US market is currently being sourced through our parent company Ebro Foods in Spain.

"However, due to a significant increase in demand for various Ebro companies' ready-to-serve products in Europe as well, available production capacity there is becoming tight, justifying an additional investment in the US."

The company further noted that the decision to enhance production capacity was taken in response to the increasing demand and sales of Minute Ready to Serve products every year since their launch in 2006.

Minute Ready-to-Serve products are available in 16 varieties, which include Organic Brown Rice, Organic White Rice, Organic Red Quinoa & Brown Rice with Garlic, and White & Red Quinoa.