Smithfield to invest $45 mln in bacon, ground pork operations

Smithfield Foods Inc. announced it is investing nearly $45 million and adding 70 jobs at its Sioux Falls, S.D., facility to meet growing demand for bacon and ground seasoned pork.

The investment includes renovating a high-speed bacon line, a ground seasoned pork operation and the distribution center, and rebuilding a facility that houses more than 8,000 hogs.

The project will help Smithfield meet increasing domestic demand for bacon and international demand for ground seasoned pork, a growing category in export markets, the company said.

The bacon equipment upgrades, to be completed by May 2019, are intended to improve the volume, yield and quality of the products made by the facility.

Changes to Smithfield’s ground seasoned pork operation will help the company meet increased demand from export markets and include a renovation to the existing distribution center, currently under way and on schedule to be completed by March 2019. It will incorporate the latest technology for automated packaging, boxing, labeling and stacking.

“Export markets are key for the continued growth of all U.S. hog producers and pork processors,” Jason Richter, president of the international group for Smithfield Foods.

The hog barn renovation will be complete in early fall 2019, and its design will reflect leading animal handling practices, including automatic climate control systems, the company said.

The 70 new employees will join nearly 3,000 others at the Sioux Falls facility, which produces deli meats, hot dogs and smoked hams in addition to ready-to-cook bacon and fresh pork.