Williams Sausage Company Inc. has announced a $37 million investment that will result in 226 new jobs, a new 180,000-square-foot-facility, a $3 million investment to its existing facility and a new sandwich line. The new facility will be in Union City, TN, the 59-year old family-owned company’s home base. The expansion announcement was made by Governor Bill Haslam, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd and Roger Williams, president and owner of Williams Sausage Company.

“Generation after generation, Tennessee has made some of the best-known and most-respected food brands in the world,” Haslam said. “Williams Sausage Company is part of this strong legacy, and I’m pleased it has decided to build a second plant in Union City.  This major expansion by Williams Sausage will create hundreds of new jobs for Obion County residents and brings us closer to our goal of making Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs.”

Roger Williams owns and manages Williams Sausage Company with his brother David and other family members.  He said he is proud to announce the expansion in the city that has been Williams Sausage Company’s home since its founding by their parents, Harold and Hazel Williams, in 1958.

“Williams Sausage Company and the Williams family are excited about expanding in our hometown,” Williams said. “The support we have received from the State of Tennessee, Union City and Obion County in this endeavor has been overwhelming and will help propel our business to a new level.  We are extremely thankful for our existing team members and customers, who have made our business such a success that we need to build this new facility.”

Commissioner Boyd said the investment reflects the continued success of Tennessee’s food manufacturing industry.

“More than 6,500 jobs and $2 billion in new investment have been poured into Tennessee by the food and beverage industry in just the last six years,” Boyd said. “The food manufacturing industry now employs more than 33,500 Tennesseans. When a homegrown business like Williams Sausage plans to invest further in Tennessee, it’s a strong affirmation of our state’s high-skilled workforce and business-friendly environment. On behalf of Team Tennessee, I’d like to thank Williams Sausage for committing to create 226 new jobs in Obion County.”

Williams Sausage produces fresh sausage, fully cooked sausage, bacon, sandwiches and other food products for wholesale to retail grocers, restaurants, whole grocery warehouses and food distributors. Williams Sausage brands are sold in more than 4,000 retail outlets in 20 states.

Grocery shoppers in those states are familiar with products such as Williams Express Sausage on a Bun, Williams Express Mini Corndogs, Corndogs, Sausage Egg & Cheese Biscuits and Sausage Croissants. In addition, Williams Fully Cooked Bacon, Bacon, Sliced Bacon and Thick Slice Bacon are among the company’s retail products.

A fleet of 21 tractors, 35 refrigerated trailers and 46 refrigerated straight trucks operated by Williams Sausage Company delivers the products it manufactures. Direct-store delivery, grocery warehouses, chain accounts and broad line food service distributors are all destinations of the Williams fleet. Williams Bacon, J.C. Potter Bacon, J.C. Potter Hot Links and Ole South Smoked Sausage are among the brands produced by Williams Sausage Company.

The new facility and expansion is the latest example of growth by the company. Previous expansions occurred in 1996, 2001 and 2012. The 1996 development included adding 10,000 square feet to its existing plant. In 2001, the addition of 30,000 square feet at a cost of $4 million increased the company’s capacity from 40,000 pounds of cooked product per week to 144,000 pounds per week. The 2012 expansion brought total plant square footage to 150,000 square feet and a new production area for sandwiches and more space for processing sausage.

The new facility will free space at the current site to be renovated to provide additional processing space to further expand sales.

Source: Williams Sausage Co.