Smithfield Foods has invested more than $100 million to create a new distribution centre in Tar Heel, North Carolina.
The 500,000-square-foot facility has an annual capacity of more than one billion pounds. Smithfield said the site will optimise its transportation and distribution network to lower fuel usage, cut transportation costs and improve delivery times.
It is located adjacent to one of the company’s meat processing facilities, which produces fresh pork products.
The centre will create approximately 250 new jobs. Currently, more than 5,000 people are employed at the Tar Heel site.
Smithfield Foods CEO Kenneth Sullivan said: “We are experiencing an exciting time of growth and this new distribution centre will help us continue to optimise our footprint.
“More than 10,000 Smithfield family members already call North Carolina home, and we’re proud that our investment in this project will create even more jobs. We look forward to welcoming new employees into our family.”
Dennis Organ, senior vice president of supply chain for Smithfield Foods, said: “This new distribution centre exemplifies Smithfield’s unwavering commitment to continuously improving its operations. While providing best-in-class customer service, we’re reducing the distance our products travel, which shrinks our carbon footprint and positions us to achieve our long-term sustainability goals.”
North Carolina agriculture commissioner Steve Troxler said: “I applaud Smithfield for their continued support of North Carolina’s leading industry – agriculture. With this new facility, Smithfield will strengthen the role North Carolina farmers play in feeding our country and the world.”
North Carolina senator Bill Rabon said: “Smithfield’s investment in this new facility is yet another example of the company’s role as an economic driver for our state. In addition to providing thousands of well-paying jobs, the company and its people regularly support charitable causes that improve the lives of fellow North Carolinians. Smithfield continues to be a great partner of the Tar Heel State.”
Last week, Smithfield announced an investment of nearly $45 million in its operations in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to help it meet growing domestic demand for bacon and international demand for ground seasoned pork.
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