Smithfield Foods Inc. is pleased to announce the grand opening of its new distribution center in Tar Heel, North Carolina, which will create approximately 250 new jobs in the state. Smithfield invested more than $100 million into the over 500,000-square foot facility and its blast cell cold storage capabilities at its processing facility, which will strengthen the company’s supply chain to better serve customers globally.

“We are experiencing an exciting time of growth and this new distribution center will help us continue to optimize our footprint,” said Kenneth Sullivan, president and chief executive officer for Smithfield Foods. “More than 10,000 Smithfield Family members already call North Carolina home, and we’re proud that our investment in this project will create even more jobs. We look forward to welcoming new employees into our family.”

Smithfield leadership recently attended a grand opening and ribbon cutting celebration at the Tar Heel distribution center, which has begun making shipments and will be fully operational by January 2019. Commissioner Steve Troxler, North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Affairs, and state Sen. Bill Rabon joined the celebration.

“I applaud Smithfield for their continued support of North Carolina’s leading industry—agriculture,” said Troxler. “With this new facility, Smithfield will strengthen the role North Carolina farmers play in feeding our country and the world.”

The new facility features nearly 50,000 pallet positions and has an annual capacity of more than one billion pounds. It will also optimize its transportation and distribution network to lower fuel usage, cut transportation costs, and improve delivery times. It is located adjacent to one of the company’s meat processing facilities, which is the largest pork plant in the world, and produces fresh pork products for customers in the U.S. and across the globe.

“Smithfield’s investment in this new facility is yet another example of the company’s role as an economic driver for our state,” said Rabon. “In addition to providing thousands of well-paying jobs, the company and its people regularly support charitable causes that improve the lives of fellow North Carolinians. Smithfield continues to be a great partner of the Tar Heel State.”

Dennis Organ, senior vice president of supply chain for Smithfield Foods, commented. “This new distribution center exemplifies Smithfield’s unwavering commitment to continuously improving its operations. While providing best-in-class customer service, we’re reducing the distance our products travel, which shrinks our carbon footprint and positions us to achieve our long-term sustainability goals.”

New employees at the distribution center will join more than 5,000 currently employed at the Tar Heel facility.