Edesia opens expanded Rhode Island factory with capacity to reach 10 million children a year

Edesia Nutrition has opened a major expansion of its North Kingstown factory, increasing its capacity to produce foods that prevent and treat malnutrition for up to 10 million children annually.

The Rhode Island nonprofit marked the opening October 22 with a ribbon cutting and tours of its expanded campus at 550 Romano Vineyard Way. The project adds 215,000 square feet of manufacturing, warehouse and office space, bringing the campus to 300,000 square feet and creating more than 50 new jobs.

For an organization that has reached 32 million children in 67 countries since 2010, the expansion represents a substantial increase in its ability to respond to childhood malnutrition.

But Edesia says putting that capacity to work will require additional support from governments, foundations, businesses, humanitarian organizations and individual donors.

“There are many problems that we do not know how to solve. Malnutrition is not one of them,” said Navyn Salem, Edesia’s founder and CEO.

Photos by Mary Dowdle

Rhode Island production, global reach

Known internally as “Moonshot,” the expansion strengthens Edesia’s ability to treat children suffering from severe malnutrition while increasing production of foods intended to prevent children from becoming dangerously malnourished.

Edesia says it is on track to become the world’s largest producer of complementary foods for young children.

The nonprofit purchases ingredients from American farms and processors in 17 states. More than 150 employees operate its factory around the clock, five days a week. Foods produced in North Kingstown travel by truck, ship and plane to children affected by famine, conflict, displacement and poverty.

New technology and production efficiencies are projected to reduce costs by nearly 20% compared with 2023, according to Edesia. The project also supports an Innovation Fund focused on improving products, production and delivery.

Bezos family support helped drive expansion

The expansion grew out of a challenge from the Bezos family nearly four years ago to think bigger about addressing malnutrition. The family’s $147 million Making Malnutrition History Fund has supported Edesia’s broader investments in manufacturing, staffing, research, fundraising and partnerships. The goal is to shift more of the global response toward prevention while continuing to treat children already in danger.

“We backed this expansion because malnutrition is a problem the world already knows how to solve,” said Mike Bezos. “But this added capacity alone doesn’t save lives. Putting it to work does.”

An urgent need—and a call for partners

According to UNICEF figures cited by Edesia, an estimated 42.8 million children younger than five suffer from wasting, a life-threatening form of malnutrition. Undernutrition contributes to nearly half of all deaths among children under five.

Edesia says the expanded factory provides the ability to reach millions more children, provided funding and partnerships keep production moving and get the food to those who need it.

Guests at the opening included U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, U.S. Reps. Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo, Quonset Development Corporation CEO Steve King and Dimeo CEO Steve Rutledge.