Gray & Yakult Celebrate Groundbreaking for New Greenfield Facility

This new 250,000 s.f. beverage production and bottling facility will be the second manufacturing plant in the U.S. for Japan-based Yakult. The company first planted its flag in California in 2014, but thanks to rapid expansion of the market and increases in sales, Yakult USA Inc. is once again growing.

“We’re fortunate to have a long history of working with Japanese companies and want to celebrate this legacy,” says Stephen Gray, president & CEO, Gray, Inc. “Breaking ground today is more than just the start of a new facility. It’s a powerful symbol of the trust that has been built between our teams—one cohesive team. We’re proud to play a part in helping Yakult grow and impact the marketplace.”

The Gray family of companies is also providing extensive engineering and design services for this project, including civil, architectural, and structural engineering as well as interior design. In addition, Gray is also working closely with the Yakult USA Inc. team to assist with various parts of the design while the customer provides design and specifications for proprietary equipment.

The new production plant in Bartow County, GA will better position Yakult to meet the needs of customers in the Central and Eastern portions of the U.S.

This facility is expected to begin production in 2026 and will produce about 1.8 million bottles per day.

About Gray:

Consistently ranked among the top construction and design firms in the U.S., Gray focuses on the following markets for domestic and international customers: Food & Beverage, Manufacturing, Data Centers, Advanced Technology, Distribution, and Commercial, with nearly 30 offices across North America, Europe, and Asia.

Founded in 1960, Gray has grown to encompass a family of companies designed to augment and enhance each other’s specialized capabilities. Our robust offering—which includes engineering, design, construction, and operational improvements—enables us to deliver products and services of the highest value to the world’s leading organizations.

For more information on Gray, visit gray.com and follow Gray on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.