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...