A Historic Win: RINGANA Chooses Roanoke for Its U.S. Headquarters
When Austrian life sciences company RINGANA set out to find a home for its first North American operation, they were looking for more than square footage. They needed a community that understood their values: fresh, science-driven, sustainable products. They needed a region with the talent, infrastructure, and collaborative spirit to help them grow. They found all of it in Roanoke.
RINGANA’s announcement that it will invest $85 million and create 435 jobs here over the next five years is the largest capital investment of any Foreign Direct Investment project in the Roanoke Region’s history, and the largest jobs announcement by a newly locating manufacturer in more than 30 years. Numbers like that don’t happen by accident.
What RINGANA is Bringing to Roanoke
Founded in Austria in 1996, RINGANA has spent nearly three decades building a reputation for premium, preservative-free skincare products, nutritional supplements, and functional beverages, all made in small batches to maximize freshness. Because their products have a relatively short shelf life, local production isn’t just a preference; it’s a necessity. The new Roanoke facility, located at the Blue Ridge Commerce Park, will serve as RINGANA’s North American production, distribution, and R&D hub, enabling the company to bring its full product lineup to U.S. consumers for the first time.
“Following the highly successful establishment of our brand in the European market and our major successes in Mexico, Colombia, and Peru, we are excited to bring RINGANA to the USA,” said Andreas Wilfinger, RINGANA’s founder and CEO. “The location in Roanoke is perfect for our plans. We were welcomed with open arms by the local community and the authorities working there, which gave us a very positive feeling about a long-term collaboration.”
Anyone interested in learning more about the project and career opportunities can find further information here.
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How Roanoke Won This Project
Attracting a company of RINGANA’s caliber to the region required a sustained, coordinated effort. The Roanoke Regional Partnership worked alongside the City of Roanoke and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, but the campaign’s strength came from the breadth of partners who showed up. Life sciences industry leaders, workforce development institutions, civic stakeholders, and business community representatives all played a role in making the case.
What impressed RINGANA wasn’t any single asset. It was the full picture: a growing innovation ecosystem, a demonstrated capacity for advanced manufacturing, proximity to a skilled and trainable workforce, and a region that clearly wanted them here.
“Successes like RINGANA happen when a region is aligned, collaborative, and ready to compete on a global stage,” said John Hull, president and CEO of the Roanoke Regional Partnership. “Throughout this recruitment effort, partners and leaders across the Roanoke Region came together to showcase the assets that make this region special. We are grateful for the collaboration that made this possible and excited to begin a long and successful partnership with RINGANA.”
What It Means for the City of Roanoke
For city leaders, the RINGANA announcement represents something beyond a single company’s arrival. It validates years of investment in workforce development, infrastructure, and business climate, and signals to the global marketplace that Roanoke is a serious destination for international companies.
Marc Nelson, Roanoke’s economic development director, framed it in terms of positioning: “Roanoke is an ideal location for international companies to establish their U.S. presence. By choosing Roanoke for its first U.S. location, RINGANA is strengthening our position as an epicenter for advanced manufacturing and innovation.”
City Manager Valmarie Turner pointed to the deeper significance for Roanoke residents: “This $85 million investment and the hundreds of high-quality jobs it brings to Roanoke are a testament to our talented workforce, strategic location, and commitment to supporting business growth and economic opportunity.”
Mayor Joseph Cobb highlighted a dimension that often goes unspoken in economic development announcements: the long-term community benefit of landing a company whose values align with the city’s own. Cobb pointed to RINGANA’s environmentally focused workplace culture and its proximity to the DayTec Career Technical Education Center, which creates a direct connection between the company and Roanoke’s next generation of workers.
Looking Ahead
The state of Virginia is backing the project with a $5 million Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund grant, and RINGANA will receive customized workforce training support through VEDP’s Virginia Talent Accelerator Program, ranked the No. 1 Customized Workforce Training Program in the country for the third consecutive year.
For the Roanoke Region, this is a moment worth marking. A globally recognized brand in the premium life sciences space looked at communities across the country and chose us. That’s a reflection of what this region has been building, and a preview of what’s possible.