Fleury Michon to open first US factory

Core Viewpoint - MarfoFMA, a division of Fleury Michon Group, is set to open its first production plant in the US, investing over $37 million to repurpose a former distribution site in Kentucky for manufacturing frozen meals aimed at airline clients [1][2]. Group 1: Investment and Operations - The investment of over $37 million will transform the former White Castle distribution site in South Covington, Kentucky, into a production facility [1]. - The factory will focus on producing frozen meals specifically for airline customers, enhancing service reliability across Europe, the US, and Canada [1]. - The project is expected to create 78 full-time jobs in the local area [2]. Group 2: Company Background and Strategic Developments - Fleury Michon was established in 1905 in France and expanded into airline catering by acquiring Quebec-based FMA in 2006 and Netherlands-based Marfo in 2019, merging them into MarfoFMA [2]. - These strategic acquisitions have positioned the group as a significant player in the airline catering sector across Europe and North America [2]. Group 3: Local Impact and Economic Incentives - The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) has granted preliminary approval for a ten-year incentive package that could provide up to $1.5 million in performance-based tax incentives [5]. - An additional $200,000 in tax incentives has been approved through the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act [5]. - Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear highlighted the announcement as a sign of the state's strong economic momentum and openness to global companies [6].