GREELEY, COLO. — JBS USA announced a $75 million expansion at its Hyrum, Utah, beef processing plant. The project already has received regulatory approvals. The company expects the project to be complete and the plant to be fully operational in spring 2016.
The expansion includes a new fabrication building, a new ground beef facility and a new distribution center. The company expects to boost production levels by 400 head of cattle per day. Additional benefits include improved plant efficiencies and a bigger product offering of high quality beef and ground beef products for the company’s customers.
“Hyrum is simply one of the premier plants in our beef business,” said Bill Rupp, president and chief operating officer of JBS USA Beef. “Well-known for the Blue Ribbon Beef brand, the Hyrum facility has been a proud member of the local community for nearly 80 years and is an ideal location for expansion to service the ever-growing beef market in the western U.S. Today’s announcement is a testament to our commitment to providing our customers with the best beef and ground beef products on the market and bolstering the long-term viability of this flagship facility.”
E.A. Miller Meat & Livestock Co. built the facility in 1936. JBS USA acquired the plant in 2007, and currently, nearly 50,000 cattle are processed there annually. JBS USA said the Hyrum plant is a “significant player in the international market, exporting approximately 20% of its production to countries including Japan, Taiwan, Korea and Mexico.”
“The Cache Valley’s long-standing reputation for quality cattle, coupled with the growing Idaho dairy industry, uniquely positions the Hyrum facility for expansion,” said Steve Williams, head of cattle procurement for JBS USA. “While the U.S. beef industry has certainly faced recent supply challenges, we are confident that the expansion of our traditional cattle mix to include beef and dairy cows will result in ample cattle supply, create tremendous opportunities for area producers and ensure that Hyrum will continue to build on its legacy of quality cattle and quality products for years to come.”
