Illustrations by Jamie Plain
What do custom bourbon barrels, pasta sauce jars, car parts, and baby diapers have in common? They’re all made right here in Owensboro-Daviess County.
From longstanding factories that helped shape our city’s industrial backbone to innovative companies creating next-generation products, manufacturing remains a driving force in Daviess County’s economy. Today, local facilities produce goods that reach customers across the globe — from whiskey lovers and homebuilders to auto manufacturers and grocery store shelves.
In this special section, we’re highlighting some of the products that are proudly made right by companies right here in Owensboro.
Whether they’re crafting specialty steel, bottling household brands, or creating custom cabinetry, these businesses share a commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and community.
This list isn’t comprehensive — it’s meant to spotlight just a few of the businesses helping Owensboro make its mark. Owensboro makes more than you might think. Here’s a closer look.
Green River Distilling Co.
Green River Distilling Co. is Kentucky’s 10th-oldest licensed distillery and operates in a historic facility on Owensboro’s riverfront. The distillery produces Kentucky Straight Bourbon and serves as a contract distiller for other brands. Owned by Bardstown Bourbon Company, it’s helped revitalize local bourbon tourism.
Owensboro Grain/Cargill Inc.
Owensboro Grain, now operated by Cargill, processes soybeans and other agricultural commodities at its riverfront facility. The plant produces oils, animal feed ingredients, and bio-based products, supporting both local farmers and global supply chains. It remains a vital link in Kentucky’s agricultural and food production economy.
John Conti Coffee (Five Star Food Services)
Five Star Food Services operates a regional roasting and distribution center for John Conti Coffee in Owensboro. The facility supplies fresh-roasted coffee to restaurants, schools, offices, and convenience stores across the region, combining small-batch quality with full-service beverage delivery and equipment support.
Kentucky Legend
Kentucky Legend, owned by Specialty Foods Group, is a nationally recognized brand known for its boneless hams and smoked meats — all of which are cooked and packaged in Owensboro. The plant produces a variety of products including hams, turkey breasts, hot dogs, bacon, and lunch meats, servicing both branded and private-label lines.
OMICO Plastics
OMICO is a custom blow-molding manufacturer with a presence in the automotive, toy, appliance, and lawn and garden sectors. In addition to automotive parts, OMICO produces high-quality molded parts for industrial and consumer goods.
Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark’s Owensboro facility produces paper and hygiene products for brands like Huggies and Cottonelle. It manufactures diapers, baby wipes, toilet paper, and paper towels, playing a major role in the company’s North American supply chain.
Swedish Match
Swedish Match manufactures ZYN nicotine pouches, one of the most popular tobacco-free nicotine products in North America, in Owensboro. The state-of-the-art facility is a high-output operation focused on precision pouch filling, flavoring, and packaging — all within strict FDA and quality control standards.
Custom Fabrication, Inc.
Provides metal fabrication services including laser cutting, forming, and welding for a variety of industries.
Dart Polymers
Processes plastic resins and materials used in manufacturing.
Domtar Paper Co.
Converting center that processes paper products after they are produced.
Mizkan America
Mizkan’s Owensboro plant produces around one million jars daily of Ragú and Bertolli sauces, which are distributed to markets across North America and exported globally. It also makes Holland House cooking wines and Nakano rice vinegar. A 2025 expansion increased production space by 320,000 square feet and added 44 jobs.
Hausner Hard Chrome
Offers industrial chrome plating and roll/shaft fabrication.
Hendrick Screen Company
Manufactures stainless steel and nickel alloy screen products used in water intake systems, food processing, and industrial applications.
Hines Precision Inc.
Specializes in metal stamping and custom machining for auto, industrial, and other sectors.
Hollison
Develops and produces food safety and biosecurity technologies, including contamination detection and air sampling systems.
Hunter Douglas
The Owensboro location is a plastic and die casting facility that produces component parts for Hunter Douglas, a custom window treatment manufacturer.
Industrial Mold & Machine Co.
Manufactures precision molds and machined parts for industrial applications.
Big River Rubber & Gasket Co.
Manufactures custom rubber gaskets, seals, and hose assemblies for industrial applications.
Irving Materials, Inc.
Produces ready-mix concrete and construction materials for residential, commercial, and industrial projects.
MPD, Inc.
Develop technology and products for law enforcement, public safety, military, industrial applications, and more.
Lee Brick & Block, Inc.
Manufactures bricks, masonry units, and concrete blocks for construction throughout the region.
Metalsa Structural Products
Fabricates automotive components specializing in chassis structures for light and commercial vehicles.
Milliken & Company Owensboro
Specialty Polymers
Produces additives and colorants for plastics used in packaging, automotive, and industrial coatings.
Modern Welding Co.
Manufactures aboveground and underground steel storage tanks, ASME pressure vessels, and custom steel fabrications.
Phil’s Custom Cabinets
Designs and fabricates custom cabinetry for residential and commercial clients, including in‑house finishing and millwork.
Pilot Steel, Inc.
Fabricates steel and structural components for institutional, commercial, and industrial customers nationwide.
Southern Tank & Manufacturing Co., Inc.
Manufactures custom aboveground tanks for flammable liquids, chemicals, and water storage.
Sun Windows
Sun Windows produces more than 80,000 custom units each year from its state-of-the-art facility in Owensboro. The company specializes in high-performance aluminum-clad wood and all-vinyl windows and doors, serving both residential and commercial markets. Sun Windows primarily serves a 600-mile radius that includes major cities like Nashville, Charlotte, and Atlanta.
T & W Valve and Machine Co., Inc.
Specializes in valve repair and machining services for the power generation, chemical, and refining industries.
Toyotetsu Mid America (TTMA)
Manufactures stamped and welded automotive parts such as radiator supports, floor cross members, brake pedals, and lower arms.
Mulzer Crushed Stone, Inc.
Supplies crushed limestone, sand, and gravel used in residential, commercial, and highway construction projects.
UniFirst Corporation
As a distribution and fulfillment center, the local facility processes more than 20 million garments each year for customers across the U.S. and Canada.
CRS OneSource
Distributes food-service packaging, janitorial supplies, and kitchen equipment to businesses across the region.
Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling
Bottles and distributes Coca-Cola products for the region.
PepsiCo
Maintains a local facility for product distribution.
Glenmore Distillery
Now part of the Sazerac Company, Glenmore bottles spirits including bourbon and vodka in Owensboro.
Total Packaging LLC
Provides labeling, kitting, and bundling services to prepare products for shipment or retail from its Owensboro facility.
