The Daily Dig:
Smithfield Foods has started the approval process for a new packaged meats and fresh pork processing facility in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The proposed plant would be built in Foundation Park, a 1,000 plus acre heavy industrial park in the city's northwest corner, replacing a downtown facility that's been running for over a century. The project still needs permitting, regulatory approvals, and final design sign-off from Smithfield's board.
The company is projecting an investment of up to $1.3 billion over three years. If approvals come through, site work could start as early as spring 2026, with groundbreaking in the first half of 2027 and production online by end of 2028. Smithfield employs about 3,200 people in Sioux Falls today, accounting for roughly $200 million in annual wages and supporting a broader network of ag jobs across the region.
Project Snapshot:
Company: Smithfield Foods, Inc. (Nasdaq: SFD)
Sector: Food processing - Packaged meats and fresh pork
Project Type: Replacement processing facility (combined fresh pork and packaged meats)
Preliminary Investment: Up to $1.3 billion over three years
Facility Location: Foundation Park (1,000+ acre heavy industrial park), northwest Sioux Falls, at the intersection of Interstates 29 and 90
Current Facility: Existing downtown Sioux Falls plant, over 100 years in operation
Employment Impact: 3,200 local employees; approximately $200 million in annual wages
Supply Chain Impact: Supports independent hog farmers, corn and soybean producers, and regional agriculture
Technology / Design: Highly automated, advanced process flow, streamlined facility design
Approvals Required: Permitting, regulatory approvals, and board approval of final facility design
Site Timeline: Site work expected spring 2026
Groundbreaking: Anticipated first half of 2027
Operations Target: Production expected by end of 2028
Public Partners: State of South Dakota, City of Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls Development Foundation
TheJobWalk Thoughts:
A $1.3 billion food processing facility with board approval still pending and multiple regulatory layers ahead means the preconstruction runway here is long, and that's an advantage if you're paying attention. Water and wastewater are going to be among the first real friction points on a site this size, and contractors or suppliers waiting for dirt to turn will already be behind. The I-29/I-90 location is solid for logistics, but industrial builds like this have a way of surfacing utility and site prep complexity that stretches timelines and creates its own set of opportunities. For BD teams tracking this one, the window is open now. Work the entitlement milestones, follow the design progression, and get in front of the right people while the project is still being shaped, not after the work's already been handed out.
Courtesy of Smithfield Foods
