Wisevoter
Eau Claire

ABF Ingredients Launches Eau Claire Manufacturing Site

The $274 million facility will serve as the North American campus for Ohly and create up to 100 new local jobs.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Manufacturing

Heavy machinery sits on a raw construction site in front of a steel warehouse frame under a hazy sky.
ABF Ingredients has broken ground on a new $274 million manufacturing facility in Eau Claire, a project expected to create 100 jobs. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

In your area, do large manufacturing developments generally improve the local economy?

ABF Ingredients officially broke ground on a new manufacturing facility in Eau Claire following site preparations that began in mid-September 2026. This project is expected to create 90 to 100 jobs as it expands over three development phases through 2035.

Why it matters

The investment establishes a new North American campus for the food ingredient company Ohly, leveraging local industrial infrastructure. This development is part of a broader push to scale operations while utilizing the existing regional presence of the parent company.

The project spans 70 acres and aims for a total footprint of 157,000 square feet upon completion of all three phases. The first phase features a 22,000-square-foot spray drying facility that is projected to generate 30 initial manufacturing jobs.

The players

ABF Ingredients

This global company manufactures specialty food ingredients and operates existing facilities in locations such as Boyceville, Wisconsin.

Ohly

A subsidiary of ABF Ingredients that focuses on yeast extracts and specialty powders for the food and biotechnology industries.

Eau Claire City Council

The local governing body responsible for municipal zoning, land use, and economic development approvals in Eau Claire.

The details

Located in the Gateway Northwest Business Park, the site requires the extension of Venture Drive to support logistics. The development will unfold in stages, with the first phase scheduled to become operational in the spring of 2028.

Timeline

  1. April 2026: Eau Claire City Council approves the land purchase.

  2. August 2026: Soil-leveling work begins at the site.

  3. Mid-September 2026: The official groundbreaking occurs.

  4. Spring 2028: The phase one facility is expected to be operational.

  5. Through 2035: The development project is planned to continue.

Market Landscape

This investment mirrors a broader regional trend of concentrating specialized food manufacturing within dedicated municipal business corridors. By centralizing operations in Eau Claire, ABF Ingredients is positioning its logistics to integrate more effectively with its existing Wisconsin supply chain.

Local residents can expect to see new job opportunities opening as the first phase approaches its spring 2028 operational launch. The expansion of Venture Drive may also affect traffic flow near the Gateway Northwest Business Park during the multi-year construction period.

The takeaway

The multi-phase development highlights the ongoing economic growth within the Eau Claire industrial sector. Residents should monitor local job boards for recruitment timelines as the 2028 operational date nears.

Further reading

Learn more about local industrial growth in the Manufacturing section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Volumeone.

Live Poll

In your area, do large manufacturing developments generally improve the local economy?