JBS USA broke ground on its planned, new sausage production facility in Perry, Iowa, this week — a project that is expected to ultimately create 500 jobs and cost the company $135 million to complete.
The Perry facility is expected to be operational in 2026 — starting with one shift and 250 employees, and eventually growing to two shifts and twice as many workers. It will produce 130 million pounds of sausage annually, processing 500,000 sows per year.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held this week, with leadership from JBS USA and local officials in attendance. Wesley Batista Filho, CEO of JBS USA, complimented Perry’s “proud history of food production,” and said that the company looked forward to seeing employees walk through the door in 2026.
Local officials lauded JBS USA for the capital investment, which they believe will restore stability in the region, replacing lost jobs and building a stronger future for the city. In 2024, Perry’s job market took a direct hit when Tyson Foods closed its pork facility there, which had been in operation for more than 60 years and employed some 1,300 people.
About the Author
Andy Hanacek
Senior Editor
Andy Hanacek has covered meat, poultry, bakery and snack foods as a B2B editor for nearly 20 years, and has toured hundreds of processing plants and food companies, sharing stories of innovation and technological advancement throughout the food supply chain. In 2018, he won a Folio:Eddie Award for his unique "From the Editor's Desk" video blogs, and he has brought home additional awards from Folio and ASBPE over the years. In addition, Hanacek led the Meat Industry Hall of Fame for several years and was vice president of communications for We R Food Safety, a food safety software and consulting company.