Japanese seasoning company Ajinomoto is set to build a plant at its Kawasaki Administration & Coordination Office for manufacturing and packaging soups along with other products.

The company will build the plant with an investment of JPY20bn ($176m) and will move its Kawasaki Plant of Knorr Foods to this location.

With the construction of the facility, Ajinomoto intends to double its production capacity in the region.

In September, Ajinomoto announced that it will form a company in April next year that will manufacture and package seasonings and processed foods in Japan.

Upon completion, the facility is expected to further enhance the company’s production capabilities by using ICT, automation and other technologies.

The facility is expected to help the company in meeting a new level of production, as well as customer demand flexibly and quickly.

Additionally, Ajinomoto aims to further its growth in the soup business and develop the company by delivering nutritionally balanced, premium and other products that meet diversifying customer needs.

Ajinomoto’s value chain restructuring of its Japan Food Products business is reported to be one of the key strategies in its FY2017-2019 Medium-Term Management Plan.