Tyson Fresh Meats Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Tyson Foods Inc. of Springdale, said Thursday that it is investing $27 million to expand production capacity at its case-ready beef and pork plant in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
The project will add 55,000 SF for new production lines and warehouse space, as well as 350 jobs, bringing total employment there to more than 1,400.
The company said the move will increase the plant's capacity to produce fresh ground beef, beef and pork cuts, and meal kits for distribution to retail grocers. The expansion is underway and scheduled to be complete in July.
Tyson Foods operates three plants in the area. The company has a pepperoni plant in Council Bluffs and a bacon plant in Omaha. In all, Tyson Foods employs about 2,000 people in the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro area.
"This project is great news for our plant, our community and our customers," said Steve Friedrichsen, complex manager of the Council Bluffs case-ready plant. "We are committed to the Council Bluffs community and look forward adding more jobs with this expansion, while also meeting the growing demand for case-ready products."
The Council Bluffs case-ready plant generated an annual payroll of $37 million in 2015, the company said.