Smithfield Foods to Invest $1.3 Billion in State-of-the-Art Sioux Falls Processing Facility
Smithfield Foods plans to invest up to $1.3 billion to build a state-of-the-art packaged meats and fresh pork processing facility in Foundation Park, Sioux Falls, pending permits and board approval. The plant will replace its century-old site, support 3,200 employees, local hog and grain producers, and start production end-2028.
1. Investment Details
Smithfield Foods has preliminarily allocated up to $1.3 billion over three years for a new processing facility in Foundation Park, Sioux Falls, pending regulatory permits and final design approval by its board. This replaces the existing plant that has operated in the region for over 100 years.
2. Facility Specifications
The proposed facility will integrate advanced automation, streamlined process flow and best-in-class packaging lines to process fresh pork and value-added meats. Located at the intersection of Interstates 29 and 90, it will be the most modern plant of its kind in the U.S.
3. Economic and Job Impact
The project supports Smithfield’s 3,200 current Sioux Falls employees, $200 million in annual wages and thousands of indirect agricultural jobs. Smithfield expects to bolster local hog, corn and soybean producers and unlock redevelopment of its downtown site.
4. Timeline and Next Steps
Site preparation is slated to begin in spring 2026, with groundbreaking targeted for the first half of 2027 and production commencement by the end of 2028. Final investment hinges on securing permits, regulatory approval and board sign-off on design plans.