Nationwide food manufacturing career leads CJ Schwan’s plant director to Sioux Falls

It won’t be long before Sam Douglas will be leading a team of 650 people in Sioux Falls as CJ Schwan’s opens its new Asian food production facility at Foundation Park.

The plant is scheduled to begin producing egg rolls and steamed dumplings for the company’s food service customers as well as bibigo and Pagoda brands by mid-2027. But Douglas will be on-site long before that, planning to fully relocate to Sioux Falls from New Jersey by May.

“I’ve come out to South Dakota several times already and have had the opportunity to meet a lot of people around town,” Douglas said. “I really love the friendly and warm people and culture.”

Douglas, a Chicago native, has traveled the country building his career. A Navy veteran, he followed his father into military service and became an electrician helping with the nuclear side of how a ship is powered.

After his service, he became a maintenance supervisor at a small baked goods factory in Michigan and found a love for the food manufacturing industry. It took him to other roles in Maryland, making food spreads; Chicago, making mayonnaise; then Missouri, where he worked in leadership for a production facility making Knorr rice and noodle sides.

He most recently shifted out of the food industry, leading a factory in Long Island, New York, that made beauty and personal care products.

In 2024, he returned to the food side with CJ Schwan’s, leading an Asian food production facility for the company in New Jersey.

“So we’ll be transferring some of that knowledge over here to Sioux Falls to this facility,” he said.

“We’re also moving about six people onto the leadership team from other CJ Schwan’s facilities. They’ve come out to see the area and have had the same positive experience with people that I have.”

Douglas already has found a house he likes near Augustana University and has found his favorite neighborhood restaurant in Grille 26.

“It’s a beautiful neighborhood, and everyone is very friendly,” he said. “My neighbor came by just to say hi and introduce himself.”

As his kids have visited, “they really liked Sioux Falls too,” he said. “I’ve had a chance to explore some different places downtown, and I’m hearing about the free concerts there, so I’m excited for the summer to roll around.”

Having never been to Sioux Falls, “it first conjured up an image for me that was totally the opposite of what’s here,” Douglas said. “The level of development going on, the growth going on and just the business-friendly environment is a pleasure. There’s a beautiful downtown, so much artwork. It was different than I was expecting, and I was pleasantly surprised.”

His experience is consistent with many who move to the city, said Denise Guzzetta, vice president of talent and workforce development at the Sioux Falls Development Foundation.

“We’re so excited to welcome Sam as a new leader in our business community and are glad he’s already feeling at home here,” she said. “He brings such a range of industry experience, and the culture he’s part of at CJ Schwan’s is one that will benefit hundreds of area talent and their families.”

Douglas now has a chance to build his team here. He’s filling a few open slots on his leadership team and will begin hiring more technical roles later this year and hundreds more people early next year.

“We’re going to have a full training program,” Douglas said. “We don’t expect people to come in knowing how to make steamed dumplings and egg rolls.”

There are roles for production and packaging, maintenance, mechanics, electrical, technicians, supply chain operations “and the full gamut when you think of a factory,” he said. “HR, food safety and quality, environmental health and safety — just a wide range of opportunities available.”

He sees the same opportunity for others to grow their careers at CJ Schwan’s as he has enjoyed in the industry.

“CJ Schwan’s is a great company,” Douglas said. “The site is going to be the largest Asian-style manufacturer in the U.S. We’re building this generational opportunity in Sioux Falls, and it’s our Asian manufacturing hub, so there’s a lot of opportunities for growth. We need 650 people, and I’m told there’s a lot of good talent in Sioux Falls.”

He has been impressed by how many of his colleagues have been with the company 30 or even 40 years, he added.

“You don’t stay that long if it’s not a great company,” he said. “It’s just a very exciting opportunity.”

To learn more about growing your career in Sioux Falls, contact deniseg@siouxfalls.com.