Committed to meeting evolving customer needs, Smithfield Foods, Inc. has been exploring ways to optimize its national distribution footprint. As part of these efforts, Smithfield is expanding and relocating its Clayton, North Carolina distribution center to its Tar Heel, North Carolina facility to better serve its customers.

Smithfield has invested $100 million to build and operate this new facility in addition to creating approximately 250 new jobs for the state of North Carolina. This decision will result in the closure of Smithfield’s current distribution center in Clayton, impacting 102 salaried and hourly employees. While these necessary changes are difficult, we at Smithfield are committed to supporting Clayton facility employees through this transition by providing opportunities to apply for positions at the new Tar Heel location as well as other operations throughout the company.

This transition is anticipated to begin October 7 and has been communicated with employees and government entities in accordance with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988.

Statement attributable to Dennis Organ, senior vice president of supply chain and direct store delivery, Smithfield Foods, Inc.

About Smithfield Foods 

Smithfield Foods is a $15 billion global food company and the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield®, Eckrich®, Nathan’s Famous®, Farmland®, Armour®, Farmer John®, Kretschmar®, John Morrell®, Cook’s®, Gwaltney®, Carando®, Margherita®, Curly’s®, Healthy Ones®, Morliny®, Krakus® and Berlinki®. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com, and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.