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Meatpacking plants fall under the agricultural sector in the U.S. economy. Agricultural, food and related industries contributed more than $1 trillion to the U.S. gross domestic product in 2020. The food manufacturing portion accounted for 2 million jobs, with meat and poultry manufacturing comprising about 1/3 of these positions. A powerful subsector, the meatpacking industry employs hundreds of thousands and has posted strong growth in the past year, making it a top industry to do business with. This article will explore the key facts and statistics on the industry and examine some of the largest meatpacking companies in the United States.
Key Facts & Statistics on the U.S. Meatpacking Industry
According to data collected by MNI, as of July 2022, the U.S. meatpacking industry accounts for 2,276 companies nationwide, employing 204,306 individuals. Employment in the sector has grown by a half percent over the past year.
The most recent sales figures reported to MNI in meatpacking total $150 billion, up 2.1% over the past year. 90% of the finished product in meatpacking is distributed domestically. Manufacturing as the whole relies on only 70% of domestic distribution.
Regionally, the Midwest holds the highest concentration of meatpacking manufacturers, at 45% of the total. The Southern region follows at a distant second with 28% of the total number of meatpacking manufacturers. The Northeast and the West trail with 11% and 16% respectively.
MNI also reports that 5% of meatpacking facilities are publicly-owned, while another one percent are women-owned companies.
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Top U.S. Meatpacking Plants
Below is a list of the largest U.S. meatpacking facilities based on number of employees.
| Company | City | State | Number of Employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smithfield Foods, Inc. | Tar Heel | NC | 5,000 |
| Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. | Amarillo | TX | 4,200 |
| Tyson Fresh Meats | Amarillo | TX | 4,000 |
| Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. | Dakota City | NE | 4,000 |
| Cargill, Inc. | Wayzata | MN | 3,500 |
| JBS | Grand Island | NE | 3,500 |
| JBS | Cactus | TX | 3,450 |
| JBS USA | Greeley | CO | 3,200 |
| Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. | Holcomb | KS | 3,100 |
| National Beef Packing Co., LLC | Dodge City | KS | 3,000 |
About the Top Meatpacking Plants
Smithfield Foods, Inc., located in Tar Heel, North Carolina, safely employs 5,000 individuals. The company’s aggressive COVID-19 response revolves around keeping their employees safe and securing America’s food supply chain. Smithfield’s commitment to its employees involves recognizing the efforts of one man who received an award for his supply chain initiatives that enabled the company to benefit operationally, economically and sustainably.
Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. calls Amarillo, Texas home. The company’s 4,200 employees continue to uphold the core values developed by its founder during the Great Depression – to provide a quality, 100% natural product. Pioneers of poultry supply chain management since the 1960s, Tyson continues the tradition with the Tyson Discovery Center. Here, the company anticipates food trends, creating products to meet customers' culinary needs.
Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. in Dakota City, Nebraska employs 4,000 individuals to prepare various packaged products such as fresh chicken, pre-seasoned chicken, meal kits and a number of frozen chicken products.
Cargill, Inc. lists its primary mission as the health and safety of its 3,500 employees and the customers they serve during the COVID-19 pandemic. Partnering with global health experts, Cargill continually upgrades its Wayzata, Minnesota facility to protect its employees and the community at large, including a disaster relief fund to help employees adversely impacted by the pandemic.
JBS in Grand Island, Nebraska and its 3,500 workers produce 1855® and Swift® beef products for domestic use and export to Japan, Hong Kong, Mexico, China and other countries. True to JBS’s community commitment, associates are involved in the local United Way and other community benefits.
JBS in Cactus, Texas and its 3,450 associates focus on quality beef manufacturing for 80% domestic and 20% export use. This facility primarily produces the Swift® brand beef products. And just like the Nebraska branch, employees here are also involved in the local United Way and other community programs.
JBS USA in Greeley, Colorado employs 3,200 individuals. This facility also focuses on beef manufacturing, exporting over 30% of its final product to more than 20 different countries worldwide. This facility also participates in community benefit programs.
Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. also has a plant located in Holcomb, Kansas. Its 3,100 employees are part of the world’s largest food processing company. As such, Tyson takes sustainability seriously, exploring new avenues of responsible growth to meet the needs of the world’s population.
National Beef Packing Co., LLC, housed in Dodge City, Kansas, is one of the company’s highest-volume plants in the world. The facility’s 3,000 employees only process family-raised, corn-fed Black Angus beef for the meatpacking industry.
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Related:
Top Food Manufacturers in the U.S.
Nine Largest Manufacturers of Food Processing Equipment
Editor's Note: This article was originally published in December 2020. It has been updated annually to reflect new statistics and challenges in the market.