Rutherford County is set to become the new hub for Wow Bao, a company specializing in Asian street food. Announced by Governor Josh Stein, this move will create 88 jobs and see the company invest $6.45 million to establish its first manufacturing facility in Forest City, as reported by the Governor's Office.
The site selection by Wow Bao is a strategic decision to leverage North Carolina's workforce and boost the state's food industry profile. "North Carolina welcomes Wow Bao to our state where businesses find a strong infrastructure and ready workforce,” Governor Stein stated. Launched in 2003, the fast-casual restaurant brand is known for bao, potstickers, and soup dumplings. Despite the presence of their products in restaurants and grocery stores nationwide, the company anticipates that the new facility will modernize operations and increase production capacity.
Wow Bao's CFO Matt Fallon expressed excitement about the expansion. "With a world-class workforce and vibrant food and beverage industry, it became clear that Forest City and the State of North Carolina were the perfect home for this exciting phase of Wow Bao’s expansion," Fallon told Governor's Office. The new facility is expected to generate an annual payroll impact of over $4.3 million in the region, with average annual salaries for the new positions surpassing the Rutherford County average.
N.C. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley highlighted the importance of such developments, stating, “With the largest manufacturing workforce in the Southeast and the fourth largest food and beverage industry in the country, North Carolina is the ideal place for companies like Wow Bao to thrive.” The state's support includes a performance-based grant of $180,000 from the One North Carolina Fund, which requires job creation and capital investment targets to be met, alongside a matching grant from local governments.
Local officials have also welcomed the investment. State Senator Timothy D. Moffitt congratulated Wow Bao on choosing Rutherford County, citing the continued success and impact of their presence in North Carolina. Representative Jake Johnson echoed these sentiments, looking forward to the jobs and growth the facility will bring to Forest City.
Various economic development teams and community colleges, among other local partners, will be working in conjunction with Wow Bao to ensure the seamless integration of the new facility into the state's growing food production sector.
