JBS USA to invest in Souderton beef plant modernization

JBS USA intends to transition the company’s Souderton, Pa., beef processing facility into a dedicated value-added operation, a modernization plan that will require a $30 million investment over the next 10 years. The reveal of this new plan for the Souderton plant follows a June 12 announcement of the facility’s closure and the closure of its Empire Packing plant, a value-added operation in Memphis, Tenn.

The decision to repurpose the Souderton processing plant follows extensive collaboration among JBS USA, Governor Josh Shapiro and his administration, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, BusinessPA, UFCW leadership, Montgomery County officials, and local community stakeholders, JBS said.

“Pennsylvania’s agriculture and manufacturing industries have powered our economy for generations, and we’re making sure they continue to drive our future,” Shapiro said. “My administration is working to protect good-paying jobs — and this facility will remain an important economic driver for Montgomery County. We were proud to work alongside JBS, UFCW, and community leaders to support Pennsylvania farmers, strengthen our food supply chain, and support JBS’s continued investment in the Commonwealth.”

Converting the Souderton beef plant to value-added operations allows JBS USA to strengthen its ability to deliver high-quality, value-added protein products to customers throughout the Northeast while maintaining a significant employment presence in Montgomery County, the company said.

“This outcome allows us to preserve 400 good-paying jobs, strengthen our case-ready business, and continue serving customers in a key consumer market,” said Wesley Batista Filho, chief executive officer, JBS USA.

The Souderton transition aligns with JBS USA’s focus on aligning its operations with evolving customer needs, with the benefit of a sustainable path forward for the facility and its workforce. The Souderton facility employed approximately 1,700 people, with a processing capacity of around 2,000 cattle per day. Empire Packing employed roughly 200 people.