Jennie-O Turkey Store Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hormel Foods Corp., announced May 7 that it has reopened its Benson Ave. facility, in Willmar, Minn., following a voluntary pause due to impact of COVID-19 in the area. The company restarted operations with a core group of team members and plans to ramp up production over the next few days.

"We remain committed to our industry-leading efforts to maintain and enhance safety protections for our team members and this community,” Jennie-O Turkey Store president Steve Lykken said. “We are glad to be reopening this facility and are working on our plans for reopening our other facilities, including another location in Willmar and in Melrose, both in Minnesota.”

Lykken said the company has put the safety of the staff first throughout the pandemic and will continue to do so.

“Now that we have reopened our Benson Ave. plant, our team is turning its attention and efforts to our new awareness initiative called KEEP COVID OUT! This campaign reinforces the preventative measures throughout our facility and the efforts of our team members to keep COVID-19 outside of our building and out of our communities,” he said.