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Kraig Westerbeek Named President, Smithfield Hog Production
Smithfield Foods has named Kraig Westerbeek as president of its hog production operations effective Feb. 29, reporting to President and Chief Executive Officer Shane Smith.
“Kraig has been an extremely valuable asset to Smithfield Foods throughout his career,” said Shane Smith, chief executive officer for Smithfield. “His extensive experience in our hog production division has helped keep Smithfield on the forefront of our industry, and I look forward to his continued leadership.”
Westerbeek brings more than 30 years of industry experience to his new role...
Smithfield Foods to Terminate Grower Contracts With 26 Farms in Utah
In a press release issued Tuesday, Smithfield Foods announced it will terminate contracts with 26 hog farms in Utah amid challenging market conditions.
The contract terminations will eliminate Smithfield positions that support contract farm relationships, said the company. The number of Smithfield positions eliminated may be up to one-third of the 210 currently employed in its Utah hog production operations. The company will offer relocation opportunities for the affected employees.
Smithfield Foods is one of the world's leading vertically integrated protein companies and employs nearly 60,000 people in seven countries...
Smithfield Foods to Close Charlotte Plant
Smithfield Foods will close its Charlotte, North Carolina, pork-processing plant and transfer production to its Tar Heel, North Carolina, facility to increase efficiency and better utilize existing capacity.
The company will provide financial and other transition assistance to the 107 employees who are affected by this closure and will meet with employees to discuss options including transfer to other Smithfield locations. Smithfield will also provide a financial incentive package for hourly employees to remain at Charlotte until the final day of production in December...
Smithfield Foods' New $45 Million Wastewater System Improving Water Quality in Big Sioux River
Smithfield Foods has built a new state-of-the-art wastewater treatment system to replace a majority of the existing system at its pork-processing complex in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
The new $45 million wastewater system adds additional treatment processes and capabilities to meet new and more stringent permit limits on nitrates and ammonia. The upgraded system biologically converts ammonia-nitrogen in wastewater to nitrate-nitrogen and further removes nitrate-nitrogen from wastewater, a...
Report: Smithfield Foods to Close 30-Plus Sow Farms in Missouri
Local Missouri television news station reported that Smithfield Foods will close over 30 sow farms in the state beginning this month.
Missouri’s KTVO News spoke to a Smithfield employee who claimed the company’s president announced that sow farms in Putnam and Mercer counties would begin to close starting on May 1.
According to KTVO, 37 sow farms would be shuttered in northern Missouri.
The news organization received the following statement from Smithfield Foods’ Jim Monroe, VP for corporate affairs...
Smithfield Foods To Offer Free Tuition to U.S. Employees
Smithfield Foods will offer free tuition to full-time and part-time employees through a new program specifically designed for adults in the workplace.
Under this program, Smithfield will cover up to 100% of tuition costs for various degree and certificate programs through vetted universities and learning providers, with flexible course schedules and programs aligned to Smithfield's career pathway opportunities. Required textbooks and course fees will also be covered.
"Our employees drive our success, and they are our competitive advantage," said Shane Smith, president and chief executive officer of Smithfield Foods...
Country Music Superstar Luke Bryan, Smithfield Foods Team Up to Launch "Good Goes On" Initiative
Smithfield Foods' portfolio of consumer favorite brands are collaborating with country music superstar and television personality Luke Bryan to help recognize and uncover the good all around us, at the table to beyond.
Starting with the food we eat, the Good Goes On with Luke Bryan platform is setting out to help people discover how to best nurture themselves and be inspired to share the goodness with those around them through mealtimes, social gatherings and special occasions...
Smithfield Foods Names New Chief Human Resources Officer and General Counsel
Smithfield Foods named Isham "Jay" Bennett to the newly created role of chief human resources officer, and promoted Tennille Checkovich to general counsel.
Shane Smith, president and chief executive officer of Smithfield Foods, said, "I'm excited to welcome Jay and Tennille to their new roles. Jay's human resources leadership in the manufacturing industry is unparalleled, and Tennille's continued work to elevate Smithfield's culture of legal and regulatory compliance has been exemplary. I look forward to their contributions to enhancing Smithfield's high-performance culture and legal and
Smithfield Foods: Judge Rejects Attack on Clean Renewable Energy in North Carolina
A North Carolina administrative law judge has rejected a challenge to a general permit issued by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) authorizing the construction and operation of methane digesters for animal waste management.
The judge held that the permit was lawfully issued in accordance with specific directives from the North Carolina General Assembly.
The Environmental Justice Community Action Network and Cape Fear River Watch brought the legal action, which sought to require DEQ to consider "alternative technologies" in issuing the permit for anaerobic digesters...
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