The Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO) and the Economic Development Corporation of Utah (EDCUtah) are pleased to announce that Ya YA Foods plans to bring up to 302 new, high-paying jobs to Utah over the next 10 years.

Ogden City’s Engineering Division and Economic Development Division have been collaborating with Ya YA Foods for months on the necessary utility line upgrades to make the project feasible. Encouraged by the positive economic impact of the company’s expansion in addition to an investment to upgrade utility lines, the Ogden City Council has approved funding for the utility upgrades. Under a reimbursement agreement with Ya YA Foods, Ogden City will fund the initial cost of the infrastructure improvements with Ya YA Foods reimbursing the project costs overtime. Further, Ogden City Engineering has contributed significant staff time in modeling and designing the improvements and will also serve as construction manager for the project.

"I am thrilled that Ya YA Foods is expanding their current facility in Ogden,” said Ogden CityMayor, Mike Caldwell. “This exciting announcement is both a testament to Ogden’s appeal as a community as well as the expertise of Ogden City staff who collaborated with Ya YA Foods on finding a path forward to meet the project’s timeline. This expansion will provide a significant boost to our local economy by providing new, high-paying jobs. We look forward to the continued partnership with Ya YA Foods.”

Ogden City’s support for the utility upgrades was an integral part of GOEO’s decision to award YaYA Foods a post-performance incentive through the state’s Economic Development TaxIncrement Financing program (EDTIF). "We are thrilled to see Ya YA Foods expanding not only into Utah but into the U.S.," said Ryan Starks, executive director of the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity. "Supporting this expansion aligns with our economic vision, fostering growth and job opportunities. The many jobs that result from this expansion will enhance our economic landscape and continue to build Utah as an ideal home for the food and beverage industry."

Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Ya YA Foods is a leading manufacturer specializing in end-to-end packaging solutions for multinational beverage and liquid food companies across North America. As a key player in the food and beverage industry, Ya YA Foods is renowned for its expertise in producing a broad range of aseptic products, including plant-based milk for companies such as Oatly, high-protein beverages, juices, broths, sports drinks, dairy-based drinks, and more. With cutting-edge aseptic and hot-fill processing capabilities for carton and PET bottle packaging solutions, Ya YA Foods offers top-tier food safety standards and production excellence. The company, part of the Entrepreneurial Equity Partners portfolio, aims to become the leading aseptic beverage co-manufacturer, leveraging its unique capabilities and commitment to meeting the highest quality standards. Its facility is located in Ontario, Canada, with a facility based in Ogden, Utah, to service North America. 

“This is Ya YA Foods first expansion in the U.S. This investment will expand our capacity, add a significant number of new jobs, and contribute to the economic growth in Weber County,” said Yahya Abbas, CEO of Ya YA Foods. “It is important for us to invest and grow in a location where there is both a good business climate and an available and skilled workforce. We have found Utah to be such a place. We want to thank the State of Utah for supporting our exciting project.”

“Ya YA Foods will benefit from northern Utah’s prosperous workforce,” said Chris Roybal, president of the Northern Utah Economic Alliance (NUEA). “The company’s commitment to health and wellness aligns with the work-life balance that sets our region apart.”

“Ya YA Foods’ expansion in Utah resulted from incredible collaboration among Team Utah partners,” said Scott Cuthbertson, president and CEO of EDCUtah. “Oatly made its first decision to locate in Utah in 2019, and Ya YA Foods is well-positioned to build on that success — demonstrating the ongoing impact of economic development on Utah’s prosperity.”

Erin Farr, vice president of business development, led Project JAEI for EDCUtah.

Investors: If you were involved in this project and would like to add your organization to this announcement, please email connect@edcutah.org.