A big new hog processing plant is coming to northwest Iowa. The $264 million project to be built at Sioux City is expected to employ 1,100 people and process 3 million hog annually. It is a joint venture between two food companies, Triumph Foods and Seaboard Foods. City officials and the two companies announced the plans May 14.

Site work is expected to begin this summer and construction completed by July 2017. The plant will be built on property in the Bridgeport West Industrial Park in Sioux City, located north of the Sioux Gateway Airport along the Missouri River.

NEW HOG MARKET: Officials with Seaboard Foods and Triumph Foods have announced the two companies are teaming up to build a $264 million facility in Sioux City, Iowa, capable of processing 3 million market hogs a year.

Triumph Foods, based in St. Joseph, Mo., is owned exclusively by pork producers and Seaboard Foods, based in Guymon, Okla., is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Seaboard Corporation. The Sioux City plant's output will be marketed domestically under the PraireFresh brand name, with global sales coming under the Seaboard and St. Joe Pork brands.

Several reasons for locating in Sioux City area
Company officials say they selected Sioux City because it has a shovel-ready industrial site location, easy access to market-ready hogs and a business-friendly attitude of city leaders. They also cite the guidance provided by the Iowa Economic Development Authority in the site selection process.

"When we began inquiring about expanding our business, we recognized the strong commitment and willingness of the city and state agencies to welcome Triumph Foods and Seaboard Foods to Sioux City. Local leaders have built a business environment poised to bring growth to the region," says Mark Campbell, Triumph Foods CEO. "We look forward to the new pork processing facility being part of that growth." Adds Seaboard CEO Terry Holton, "We look forward to the new opportunities the plant will bring to our customers as well as the Sioux City area."

Joint venture, equal ownership of new packing plant
The plant is a joint venture with equal ownership by both companies. Triumph and Seaboard are integrated food companies, with farm operations and pork processing.

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Company officials say the Triumph and Seaboard have aligned their farm operations and pork processing, including genetics, pig nutrition, animal care, food safety and product quality. If the two companies were a single combined entity, they would be the second largest U.S. hog producer, a top five U.S. pork processor, and a leading exporter of U.S. pork.

One of the largest projects in Sioux City history
The joint venture will seek tax incentives from Sioux City, subject to approval by the city council. The job numbers include 900 hourly production positions and 200 salaried positions. The plant will take up about 250 acres, or most of Bridgeport West Industrial Park. Mayor Bob Scott says the Triumph-Seaboard plant will be one of the largest projects in the city's history.

Triumph and Seaboard officials say their facility will be focused on being good neighbors. The pork processing facility will be state-of-the-art, with modern design and customized landscaping for beautification and buffering from neighbors, and will use modern odor abatement technologies and environmentally friendly design features.