The Nashville facility expansion will increase Cargill’s meat crumble offerings.

NASHVILLE, TENN. — Cargill’s North America protein business is investing $146 million to expand its facility in Nashville.

The expansion will increase Cargill’s meat crumble offerings for food ingredient, food service and retail customers, the company said, and also will include construction of a dried sausage production facility. Sausage production is scheduled to begin during the first half of 2019. The project will create more than 100 jobs, doubling the facility’s current employment.

“Our customers asked for new value-added cooked meat capabilities, and we are thrilled to be able to respond by investing in this expansion at our facility,” said Monte Metz, plant general manager. “Nashville is strategically located to serve our customers in a way that helps them improve their supply chain.”

Cargill gained ownership of the Nashville facility when it acquired Five Star Custom Foods, Ltd. in June 2016.

The Nashville facility expansion falls in line with Cargill’s commitment to grow its protein business. Over the past two years, the company has invested nearly $850 million in U.S. protein expansion in Columbus, Neb.; Lake Odessa, Mich.; Mason City, Iowa; Wichita, Kas.; and Nashville, Tenn.

Brian Sikes, president of Cargill Protein

“Our growth is a tribute to the 28,000 people on our team,” said Brian Sikes, president of Cargill Protein. “They are passionate about helping our customers succeed by meeting consumer demands. We’re pleased to support investments like the Nashville expansion that help our customers grow and the communities where we operate prosper.”