Tyson Foods Inc. of Springdale said it will invest $42 million to convert an idle plant in South Carolina to expand production of consumer-ready products.
The Columbia facility closed in August, but Tyson Foods will convert it to a meat-cutting plant. The plant will produce packages of sliced beef and pork, as well as ground beef, ready for retail.
Tyson Foods said it expects production to start in May, and the company plans to invest another $13 million during the next five years. The new facility is expected to employ 330 people.
“We’re pleased to bring operations back to Columbia and are very grateful for the strong state and local support we’ve received for this project,” said Nate Hodne, general manager of the Portioned Protein Innovations team for Tyson Fresh Meats. “Once operational, this new facility will help us meet growing demand from our retail customers with high quality, pre-cut, pre-packaged fresh beef and pork.”
Tyson Foods has consumer-ready plants in Iowa, Tennessee and Texas and has plans to open an additional one in Utah later this year.
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