Honky Tonk Foodie
Ramen noodles are a fast, cost-effective way to make a filling meal and are a pantry staple for anyone needing a quick snack or creative dinner starter. Just as good raw and crispy as they are cooked, practically anything can be added to these Asian-style meal packets; variations wild and mild are all over the internet. But did you know one of the most popular brands of ramen noodles, Maruchan, which in Japanese means round child (a term of endearment), has a factory in Von Ormy?, Located south of San Antonio, Von Ormy has a population of 1,300.
Photo: @rpeloquin via Twenty20
Originally founded in Japan in 1961, the U.S. headquarters for Maruchan is in Irvine, California. Production factories in the United States include two in Southern California, one in Richmond, Virginia, and one in Von Ormy, which opened in 2014 with 200 employees. The ultimate goal is to employ 600 Texans. This facility is located near I-35 South, about 2.5 miles from Traders Village San Antonio. Annually, all of Maruchan factories produce 3.6 billion packages of Ramen Noodle Soup. If these noodles were all strung together, the distance they would cover would be from Earth to the planet Mars and back! Using the average distance, this round trip distance is about 279 million miles.
Photo: @mizzdalina via Twenty20
Business has been doing well. So well, in fact, the Texas factory is now planning a 145,000-square-foot warehouse addition for a new production line and 150 employee parking spots as part of a new expansion project. Upgrades are expected to be completed in March 2021 and are projected to cost the company $21.7 million. Looking to try this ramen or experience something new from the company? Try the picante chicken ramen noodle as a spam and egg dish, a ramen burger, or chili cheese frittatas! The possibilities are honestly endless and Texas folks will surely appreciate the business.
