JBS USA to Build New Sausage Plant in Perry, Iowa

JBS USA will invest $135 million to build a new sausage production facility in Perry, Iowa, according to a release shared with Food Processing. The company estimates that once the project is approved by local authorities, construction will begin in late 2025 and plant operations to begin in late 2026.

Perry likely had been looking for good news on the employment front, as the town last year saw the closure of the Tyson Fresh Meats plant west of town, resulting in the loss of more than 1,200 jobs for the region’s workforce.

JBS USA’s project is a separate, greenfield project unrelated to that site, and the company expects to produce 130 million pounds of sausage per year and process 500,000 sows annually once the new facility opens — which could feed more than 4 million people nationwide annually, the company said.

It is estimated the plant will ultimately employ 500 people. At first, the facility is expected to start with one shift and 250 employees, with plans to double the workforce and operate two shifts down the road.

Wesley Batista Filho, CEO of JBS USA, said the company plans “to be a long-term partner for Perry and, if approved by the community, the facility will help foster job creation and economic stability in the region.”