A foreign soy sauce company will be opening a manufacturing facility in Warrenton, its first in the United States. Yibo, Inc., has purchased a 16,500-square-foot facility in the Daniel Boone Industrial Park and will be making an investment of $5 million in the project, according to Michelle Schlenther, Warrenton economic development director. The existing building is located at 8001 Washington Ave. and was previously occupied by Wilson Waste Systems. The facility has sat vacant for some time after the trash hauling company relocated nearby. Yibo, Inc., has plans on constructing a 20,000-square-foot addition prior to beginning its local soy sauce operations, according to Schlenther. She said the company purchased the property late last year. It is owned by shareholders in China and local citizens. Schlenther said the announcement of the company's plan to open a manufacturing facility in Warrenton should be a significant economic boost to the area. "This is exciting," Schlenther said. "This is the first time the company is locating in the United States. For a company to locate in the United States, this is great, especially when we are seeing so many outsourcing to other countries. Of all the places to come, they picked the United States and Warrenton. I am dancing on air." Company representatives told Schlenther 15 to 20 people will be employed at the Warrenton facility. Annual sales are estimated to reach approximately $3 million in the first three to four years. According to its Web site, Yibo, Inc. has adopted the natural brewing method to produce naturally aged whole bean soy sauce. The main ingredients are soybeans, wheat, salt and water, which go through a six-month fermentation process. The company estimates to produce 3,000 tons of soy sauce, of which 600 tons of soybeans and 600 tons of wheat are used in the production process. The company's products are primarily marketed to local restaurants, businesses and food processing companies, the Web site states. According to Schlenther, the company was founded in 2010 and has a manufacturing facility overseas. Further details on the company or how soon it will be operating at the new Warrenton facility were not immediately available.