The US$300m plant, expected to be fully operational in 2021, will specialise in consumer ready, high-quality beef and pork products.
Nate Hodne, SVP of value added and case ready beef & pork, explained why the business is investing in this plant. “More than ever before, when it comes to the meat section, retailers are looking for solutions and today’s shoppers are looking for convenience,” he said. “As a result, we’ve seen a growing demand for consumer-ready meat, pre-packaged and available to pick up and go.”
Tyson Fresh Meats, the beef and pork subsidiary of Tyson Foods, currently operates case ready plants in Sherman, Texas, Council Bluff, Iowa, and Goodlettsville, Tennessee. The addition of this plant in Utah is expected to help Tyson better meet the needs of its customers in the western US.
“We anticipate the new US$300m plant will benefit the community by initially employing more than 800 Team Members and within the first three years of operation about 1,200 Team Members,” said Hodne. “Within the first decade, the facility is also expected to generate an estimated economic benefit of more than US$1bn through construction, salaries, sales taxes and other investments.
“We are very excited to be expanding in the Salt Lake City area,” he added. “Utah history is deeply rooted in agriculture, and we have met a lot of great people who share the same core values as Tyson. The location we are pursuing will be a great place for Team Members to live and work, and based on our team’s strong commitment to the areas where they live, I am confident we will be a positive member of this vibrant community.”
