Meatpacking plants fall under the agricultural sector of the U.S. economy, and the industry remains one of the most powerful subsectors in American manufacturing, employing hundreds of thousands of workers across facilities ranging from massive integrated processing complexes to small local meat lockers.
Today, we’re examining where the industry stands, from employment and ownership trends to the largest meatpacking plants operating in the country.
Vital Statistics on the U.S. Meatpacking Industry
According to data collected directly by MNI, the U.S. meatpacking industry accounts for 2,009 companies nationwide, employing 234,400 individuals.
Looking to reach decision makers in the meatpacking industry? Get a live database of industrial contacts, built exactly for what you’re selling. IndustrySelect gives you live access to detailed information on U.S. industrial companies and their executives. Click here to try out a free, no-obligation demo.
The average meatpacking facility employs 117 workers, though the median company employs just 11 – the average is pulled sharply upward by a handful of mega-plants employing 3,000 or more, against thousands of small local processors. Among the 1,344 companies (67 percent) that disclosed sales figures, total reported sales reach $143.2 billion. Meatpacking facilities report an average square footage of 74,500, based on the companies that disclosed facility size, and the average company has been in business for 52 years.
• 6.3% of meatpacking companies are publicly owned
• 0.5% are women-owned companies
• 6% import raw materials
• 8% distribute their products internationally
Top 10 Meatpacking Plants in the U.S.A.
| Company | City | State | Number of Employees |
|---|---|---|---|
| JBS USA Foods Group Holdings, Inc. | Greeley | CO | 5,000 |
| 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 |
| JBS | Cactus | TX | 3,600 |
| JBS | Grand Island | NE | 3,500 |
| Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. | Storm Lake | IA | 3,500 |
| JBS USA Food Co. | Greeley | CO | 3,200 |
| Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. | Holcomb | KS | 3,100 |
About the Top 10 Meatpacking Plants in the U.S.A.
1. JBS USA Foods Group Holdings, Inc. (Greeley, CO)
Employing 5,000 at its Greeley campus, JBS USA Foods Group Holdings serves as corporate headquarters and produces fresh beef, pork and poultry under a wide portfolio of brands, including Swift, Pilgrim’s, Certified Angus Beef and Just Bare. Established in 2007, the 5.2-million-square-foot facility distributes internationally and reports $49 billion in annual sales.
2. Smithfield Foods, Inc. (Tar Heel, NC)
Smithfield Foods’ Tar Heel plant employs 5,000 workers on pork processing and slaughtering at one of the largest facilities of its kind in the country. Established in 1992, the 1.2-million-square-foot plant distributes internationally and reports $3.8 billion in annual sales.
3. Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. (Amarillo, TX)
Tyson Fresh Meats’ Amarillo facility employs 4,200 workers on beef processing, supporting the company’s national beef supply chain. Established in 1974, the plant distributes nationally.
4. Tyson Fresh Meats (Amarillo, TX)
A second Tyson facility in Amarillo employs 4,000 workers on meat processing and packaging, distributing products nationally alongside the company’s other Texas operations.
5. Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. (Dakota City, NE)
Tyson’s Dakota City plant employs 4,000 on beef processing and packing. Established in 1960, the facility distributes internationally.
6. JBS (Cactus, TX)
JBS’s Cactus facility employs 3,600 and focuses on beef processing across a 300,000-square-foot plant, distributing internationally and reporting $300 million in annual sales.
7. JBS (Grand Island, NE)
JBS’s Grand Island plant employs 3,500 on meat processing and packing across a 380,000-square-foot facility. Established in 1979, the plant distributes internationally.
8. Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. (Storm Lake, IA)
Tyson’s Storm Lake facility employs 3,500 on pork processing. Established in 1961, the plant distributes internationally.
9. JBS USA Food Co. (Greeley, CO)
A second JBS facility in Greeley employs 3,200 on beef processing and packing. Established in 1960, the plant distributes nationally.
10. Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. (Holcomb, KS)
Tyson’s Holcomb facility employs 3,100 on beef processing and packing across a 1-million-square-foot plant. Established in 1981, the facility distributes internationally.
Where Are Meatpacking Plants Located?
The Midwest holds the highest concentration of meatpacking manufacturers at 45 percent of the total, consistent with the region’s deep ties to livestock production and grain processing. The South follows at 28 percent, while the Pacific/Mountain region and East Coast account for 16 percent and 11 percent, respectively.
Top States for Meatpacking
Texas leads the nation in meatpacking with 145 companies, representing 7.2 percent of the industry. The state’s scale reflects its position as a major cattle-producing region with extensive processing and distribution infrastructure. Illinois follows with 123 companies, or 6.1 percent, anchored by Chicago’s long history as a meatpacking and food distribution hub.
Other top meatpacking states include:
• Iowa (97 companies, 4.8 percent)
• Minnesota (94 companies, 4.7 percent)
• Pennsylvania (90 companies, 4.5 percent)
• Ohio (86 companies, 4.3 percent)
• Wisconsin (85 companies, 4.2 percent)
• Kansas (82 companies, 4.1 percent)
• Missouri (79 companies, 3.9 percent)
• Michigan (79 companies, 3.9 percent)
Top Cities for Meatpacking
Chicago, Illinois leads all cities with 37 meatpacking companies, representing 1.8 percent of the industry and reflecting the city’s enduring legacy as a national meatpacking and food distribution center. Omaha, Nebraska follows with 15 companies, or 0.7 percent, supported by the region’s cattle feeding and processing infrastructure.
Other leading cities include:
• San Antonio, TX and Brooklyn, NY, tied with 9 companies each (0.4 percent)
• Wichita, KS and Detroit, MI, tied with 8 companies each (0.4 percent)
Ownership Trends Among U.S. Meatpacking Companies
Ownership across the U.S. meatpacking industry skews heavily private, with a notable share of sole proprietorships reflecting the large number of small, independently run meat lockers and local processors that make up the base of the industry.
• Private Corporation: 52.7 percent
• Sole Ownership: 18.6 percent
• Limited Liability Company: 11.1 percent
• Public Corporation: 6.3 percent
• Private Sub-S Corporation: 5.5 percent
• Partnership: 3.8 percent
Industry Applications for Meatpacking Companies
Based on verified company data, the meatpacking industry spans a range of capabilities, from large-scale protein processing to small, specialized operations:
• Beef processing and slaughtering accounts for 29.4 percent of the industry, the single largest capability among meatpacking companies.
• Pork processing and slaughtering accounts for 25.7 percent of the industry, reflecting deep ties to hog production in states like Iowa and Minnesota.
• Sausage and other processed meats account for 10.1 percent of the industry.
• Poultry processing accounts for 8.7 percent of the industry, covering chicken and turkey operations.
• Wholesale and distribution operations account for 7.9 percent of the industry, bridging processors and end markets.
• Custom slaughtering and processing services account for 7.4 percent of the industry, common among smaller, regionally focused operations.
• Locker and retail meat services account for 6.5 percent of the industry.
• Smoked and cured meat production accounts for 6.1 percent of the industry.
Prospecting Opportunities in the U.S. Meatpacking Industry
Are you looking for sales leads in the meatpacking industry or the manufacturing world at large? IndustrySelect provides comprehensive profiles of the nation’s industrial businesses and their executives, including meatpacking companies, powered by MNI, the trusted industrial data compiler since 1912. Try a free demo today to start reaching new prospects in the industrial world.
Looking for suppliers of food products? Search, source and quote suppliers for free on IndustryNet.
Editor’s Note: This article was first published in July of 2022. It is updated periodically to reflect new statistics on the U.S. meatpacking industry.