Mexico’s largest pasta manufacturer, La Moderna, has unveiled its US$50 million United States headquarters and production facility in Cleburne, Texas. The new 150,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art production, manufacturing, and distribution facility marks the company’s first physical US property, and the beginning of its quest to expand its presence and market share in the US.

La Moderna unveiled the project on this week (Tuesday, March 20) during an event and an inauguration ceremony with remarks from Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Mexico Secretary of Foreign Affairs Luis Videgaray Caso, Cleburne Mayor Scott Cain, and La Moderna Chairman of the Board Luis Miguel Monroy.

Located at 1929 Sparks Drive in Cleburne, the project sits on 16.5 total acres, is capable of producing nearly 4,000 tons of pasta per month, and is responsible for creating 100 direct and 300 indirect new jobs for the city of Cleburne and greater Johnson County.

“We are proud to not only have built La Moderna’s first facility in the United States but also to have created one of the most high-tech and self-sufficient factories in the history of food manufacturing,” Luis Miguel Monroy, Chairman of the Board at La Moderna. “The result reflects the convergence of our Mexican heritage and dedication to product quality, Texas’ entrepreneurial spirit and business-friendly climate, and unparalleled state-of-the-art production technology. This truly marks the pinnacle of La Moderna’s goal of becoming a household name, not just in Mexico, but in the United States.”

“It is because of investments like this that the Texas economy continues to be the envy of the nation for economic growth and job creation,” said Governor Abbott. “Today’s grand opening represents more than an economic investment; it is an investment in the Cleburne community, the state of Texas, and the Texas-Mexico relationship. I thank the Interamerican Foods Corporation and La Moderna, and I look forward to continuing to strengthen this partnership.”

Other specifics include:
• State-of-the-art technology including ergonomic palletizing workstations, voice-directed systems, temperature-controlled storage, and radio frequency scanning (RFS)
• US$2MM in dynamic digital displays, state-of-the-art control systems, and interactive technology with multilingual content
• Office space with modern seating clusters, charging stations, elevated work stations, and conference rooms
• Robotic warehouse automation
• Microbiology, chemistry, research & development, pathogen, food safety, and product analysis labs
• Sustainable design elements including low-profile raised flooring, 100 percent high efficiency LED lighting, LED technology-powered digital displays, daylight-optimized building footprint, high-performance glazing systems, and a rainwater recovery system
• First factory to have accumulations of long and short pasta
• One of the most self-sufficient and technologically-advanced factories in the US

Toluca, Mexico-based La Moderna has been exporting to the US for 25 years, with 20 percent of total sales coming from the US market. In 2017, La Moderna registered US$520 million in total sales and sold more than 570 million pounds of pasta products