Smithfield Foods proposes $1.3 billion processing plant in Sioux Falls
Smithfield Foods Inc. announced plans to pursue approvals for a new packaged meats and fresh pork processing facility in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with an estimated investment of up to $1.3 billion.
The proposed facility would be built in Foundation Park, a large industrial area in northwest Sioux Falls, and would replace the company’s existing plant, which has operated in the city for more than a century. The project remains subject to permitting, regulatory approvals and final design approval by the company’s board of directors.
Smithfield currently employs about 3,200 workers in Sioux Falls, with annual wages totaling approximately $200 million. The company said the operation also supports additional jobs across the regional agricultural economy.
Construction could begin with site work in spring 2026, followed by groundbreaking in the first half of 2027. Production at the new facility is expected to start by the end of 2028 if the project moves forward.
Company officials said the facility would combine fresh pork and packaged meats operations and incorporate automation and updated processing systems aimed at improving efficiency.
State and local officials expressed support for the proposal, citing potential economic impacts and opportunities for redevelopment of the existing downtown plant site.
Gov. Larry Rhoden said the investment could expand livestock production and create additional opportunities for the state’s agricultural sector. Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken said relocating the plant could allow for future redevelopment of riverfront property near downtown.
The Sioux Falls Development Foundation, which has worked with the company on the project, said the new facility could support workforce needs and provide additional market opportunities for regional producers, including hog farmers and crop growers tied to the pork supply chain.
Smithfield said the project’s timeline and completion depend on securing necessary approvals and addressing factors such as infrastructure, permitting and construction conditions.
