Johnson & Johnson invests $1 billion in Jacksonville vision manufacturing

Johnson & Johnson is spending more than $1 billion to expand its ACUVUE contact lens manufacturing, packaging, and distribution operations in Jacksonville, Florida, the company said Monday. The investment includes a new distribution facility and advanced manufacturing technologies aimed at serving more than 40 million patients in the U.S. and globally.

"This investment reinforces our long-standing conviction that advanced manufacturing in the United States is essential to delivering innovative, high quality healthcare solutions to patients at home and around the world," Joaquin Duato, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Johnson & Johnson, said. "By further strengthening our Vision operations in Jacksonville with next-generation manufacturing, packaging and distribution capabilities, we are enhancing the resilience of our U.S. supply chain while helping more people see better and live better."

The company manufactures more than 1.7 billion ACUVUE contact lenses annually at its Jacksonville facilities, which span more than 1.5 million square feet. The expansion is part of Johnson & Johnson's previously announced $55 billion commitment to U.S. manufacturing, research and development, and technology through early 2029. Construction is underway, with the new facility expected to be fully operational in 2028.

The investment strengthens Johnson & Johnson's position in the $15 billion global contact lens market, where it competes with Alcon, CooperVision, and Bausch + Lomb. ACUVUE is the market-leading brand in the U.S., and the expanded domestic capacity reduces reliance on overseas production at a time when supply chain resilience has become a priority for healthcare companies. The company has operated in Jacksonville since 1981 and contributes approximately $6 billion annually to Florida's economy, supporting 3,500 local employees.

"This is more than simple investment — this represents a down payment on the future of Jacksonville and the state of Florida," U.S. Senator Ashley Moody said. Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan called the expansion "a strong vote of confidence in Jacksonville, our workforce, and our future."

Johnson & Johnson's MedTech segment, which includes the Vision business, generated $30.5 billion in revenue in 2025, accounting for roughly one-third of total company sales. The Vision expansion signals that management sees sustained demand for corrective lenses despite the rise of refractive surgery options such as LASIK. The company did not disclose the expected job creation from the new facility but said it supports the continued growth of its 3,500-person Jacksonville workforce.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.