It had been reported that the smokehouse, which produces Genuine Smithfield Hams, was to close, ceasing production in the area. However, Smithfield Foods said these reports were “sensationalised and exaggerated”.
The business said it had absolutely no intention of ceasing production of Genuine Smithfield Ham in the town of Smithfield, Virginia and that no company representative had ever said otherwise.
Instead, it claimed that it shuttered one of the oldest buildings on its large Smithfield, Virginia, complex, while it evaluated the best site to produce Genuine Smithfield Ham going forward.
Keira Lombardo, senior vice-president of corporate affairs, said: “Consumers needn’t worry: we have plenty of Genuine Smithfield Hams in inventory. This affords us the opportunity to assess alternatives for the production of our Genuine Smithfield Ham, while continuing to supply this product to our loyal consumers.
In addition, our smokehouse employees have been relocated to another facility on our Smithfield, Virginia, campus.”
Smithfield Foods recently acquired a poultry plant in Poland to help target the UK frozen market.