Richard’s Cajun Foods will invest $2.7 million in an Acadia Parish expansion. Project to relocate administrative functions to Church Point; retain 38 jobs; result in 28 new jobs
Gov. John Bel Edwards and Richard’s Cajun Foods Inc. President Ronnie Doucet announced Richard’s will invest $2.7 million to relocate some production and administrative functions to Church Point, Louisiana, and expand the company’s operations there. With the expansion, the food processing company will retain 38 jobs and will create 12 new direct jobs, with an average annual salary of $35,000. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in 16 new indirect jobs, for a total of 28 new jobs in the Acadiana Region.
The Richard’s Church Point facility will feature 28,000 square feet of production and office space. As part of the expansion, the company is adding 6,000 square feet of space, as well as renovating 3,000 square feet of existing space in the Church Point facility. In addition to expanding the facility, Richard’s is relocating some production operations from Milwaukee to Church Point. The company anticipates construction beginning in January 2019, with completion by March 2019. Commercial operations will not cease during the expansion, and hiring for the new jobs will begin in early 2019.
“The decision by Richard’s Cajun Foods to expand in Acadia Parish is a vote of confidence in Louisiana’s ability to foster success for our existing employers,” Gov. Edwards said. “Richard’s products have been on family dinner tables across Louisiana and other Southern states for many years, and we are confident that this expansion will allow them to spread Cajun flavors and traditions to larger markets and new customers. We are proud to have their Louisiana-made products reach dinner plates across the U.S.”
Richard’s is a producer of Cajun food products, including smoked sausage, boudin and prepared entrees. Founder Lonnie Richard learned the preparation techniques of Cajun specialties from his grandmother at her Church Point grocery store. Richard’s began selling these products with only one delivery truck, and formally established Richard’s Cajun Foods in 1981.
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