Seaboard Triumph Foods (STF) announced it has targeted mid-October 2018 to begin second shift pork processing at its Sioux City, Iowa, facility. After a ramp-up period to reach full second-shift production, the new pork processing plant will employ more than 2,000 employees.

Since May 2018, the new pork processing plant has been running limited operations on second shift while hiring and training for the second shift.

“We are extremely thankful and proud of the entire team who has made this moment possible. With their commitment and dedication to make first shift fully operational, we all are looking forward to the second shift ramp up,” says Mark Porter, Seaboard Triumph Foods chief operating officer. He adds, “We’re also grateful for the continued support from the community and local and state leadership and officials.”

On Sept. 5, 2017, the Sioux City plant started first shift operations after a 2 -year plant construction project with numerous local and regional contractors and the construction management firm, Epstein. The design of the facility incorporates robotics and innovative technologies resulting in a modern, state-of-the-art facility to produce the most sought-after pork for diverse global consumers in several market segments including retail, international, food service and further processing markets.

The Seaboard Triumph Foods Sioux City plant, owned equally by strategic partners Seaboard Foods and Triumph Foods, produces fresh pork products under the domestic Prairie Fresh Pork brand and Seaboard Farms international brand. Seaboard Foods will continue to market and sell the pork produced by the Sioux City plant. The plant also supplies Daily’s Premium Meats with raw materials for its premium pork products, including raw and precooked bacon.

At full two-shift capacity, the facility will process 21,000 market hogs daily. Porter says, “We are so appreciative of the collaborative efforts with the regional hog producers who have helped supply our plant. Continuing to build new and strengthen existing relationships with those producers is very important to us.”

Primary hog supplies are sourced from Triumph Foods producer-owners’ farms and Seaboard Foods’ farms. About 30 percent of the market hogs at the Sioux City plant will be sourced from regional farmers who align with Seaboard Triumph Foods’ animal care and environmental stewardship practices, and share a common commitment to seeking a better way to produce wholesome pork.

Source: Seaboard Farms