BENTON COUNTY — Simmons Prepared Foods Inc. announced yesterday that it will build a new chicken facility in Benton County between Decatur and Gentry.
The company plans to invest $300 million in the facility, which is expected to create approximately 1,500 new jobs, bringing total employment at the operation to more than 2,300 people by 2022. It will also create new contracts with local Arkansas farmers. The facility will produce fresh and frozen chicken products for retail and restaurant customers, with the capacity to sell approximately 850 million pounds of poultry meat annually at full production. The company expects to begin new operations in 2019.
“We’re thrilled to bring this project to our community and are grateful for the cooperation from the cities of Decatur and Gentry, local officials, Arkansas Economic Development Commission and the State of Arkansas,” said Todd Simmons, CEO of Simmons Foods Inc. and Affiliates. “This project positions us to continue meeting our customers’ needs.”
According to the state's economic development proposal, the project qualified for four financial incentives: a seven-year payroll rebate program; a sales and use tax refund on construction materials; a grant program for the facility's new infrastructure and the extension of water and wastewater lines from the city of Decatur; and a partnership with the Transportation Department to add a turning lane and stoplight at Arkansas 59 and Y City Road.
The design will feature modern production facilities and contemporary office space supported with best-in-class environmental technologies. Simmons also plans to increase starting pay at production facilities later this year.
“Simmons Foods is a homegrown company that continues to invest heavily in Northwest Arkansas,” Hutchinson said. “This announcement comes just two months after the company held a ribbon cutting at its new pet food ingredient facility in Siloam Springs, which goes to show the faith they have in the area’s workforce and their commitment to the state. We competed with both Oklahoma and Missouri for this project, and I’m proud to say we won.”
County Judge Barry Moehring also joined yesterday’s announcement.
"Entrepreneurial families built the backbone of our community,” said Judge Moehring. “We are fortunate to have great, role-model businesses in Northwest Arkansas. Simmons is one of those."
Simmons’ existing operations in the Decatur area include a feed mill, hatchery, propane business, business offices and a chicken processing facility, along with a dry pet food production facility operated by Simmons Pet Food. Some processing operations will transition from the existing facility to the proposed plant once construction is complete.
About Simmons Prepared Foods
Simmons Prepared Foods, an affiliate of Simmons Foods, is a farm-to-fork poultry producer based in Siloam Springs. Simmons operates three hatcheries and two feed mills which supply nearly 300 independent poultry growers and 20-plus company managed farms which raise approximately 200 million birds per year. The company’s six processing plants produce 750 million pounds of finished product per year for customer brands around the world.
This year, Simmons began offering chicken raised without the use of antibiotics important to human medicine. In 2018, Simmons will begin offering No Antibiotics Ever (NAE) products.
About Simmons Foods Inc. and Affiliates
Simmons is a leading supplier of poultry, pet food and feed-ingredient solutions. Founded in 1949 in Arkansas, the company and its affiliates remain a privately-owned and family-led business.
Across its three business affiliates, Simmons employs more than 3,700 people in the state of Arkansas. In July, the company’s feed ingredients affiliate opened a new pet food ingredient facility, bringing 78 new jobs and an estimated $50 million in economic impact to Arkansas.
Simmons Foods works with farmers, communities and employees to apply more than 65 years of experience to serving customers. With more than 5,800 employees across more than 30 facilities, Simmons is committed to providing innovative food products and services to the world. For more information on Simmons Foods, visit simmonsfoods.com.