Smithfield Foods to Relocate Sioux Falls Plant After 115 Years
After 115 years in the heart of Sioux Falls, Smithfield Foods will be moving its pork processing facility to a new location on the northwest side of the city. The announcement, made , signals a “defining moment for Sioux Falls,” according to Governor Larry Rhoden.
The sprawling plant, a cornerstone of the local economy, will be relocated next to the Amazon packaging facility at Foundation Park. The move was jointly announced by Governor Rhoden, Mayor Paul TenHaken, and Smithfield CEO Shane Smith.
The decision to relocate comes after a complex period for the company and the city. In April of 2020, the Sioux Falls plant faced significant challenges due to COVID-19 outbreaks among its workforce. According to previous reporting, the plant temporarily closed as cases climbed to 238 on April 11th and then 293 on April 12th. At the time, the facility employed 3,700 people and supplied nearly 130 million servings of food per week – approximately 18 million servings per day – representing four to five percent of U.S. Pork production. More than 550 independent family farmers supply the plant.
The closure of the plant in 2020, combined with similar shutdowns at other protein processing facilities, raised concerns about the national meat supply. Ken Sullivan, then president and CEO of Smithfield, stated at the time, “It’s impossible to keep our grocery stores stocked if our plants are not running.” He also highlighted the potential repercussions for livestock farmers, who faced uncertainty about where to send their animals.
More recently, Smithfield has invested in infrastructure improvements at its Sioux Falls complex. In July 2023, the company completed a new $45 million wastewater treatment system designed to improve water quality in the Big Sioux River by meeting more stringent permit limits on nitrates and ammonia.
The move to Foundation Park is being facilitated by a $50 million gift from Sanford Health, according to reports. The new facility will allow Smithfield to continue its operations in Sioux Falls while modernizing its infrastructure and potentially expanding its capacity. The company has not yet released details regarding the timeline for the move or the future of the existing plant site near Falls Park.
The relocation represents a significant shift for Smithfield and the city of Sioux Falls, marking the end of an era for the plant’s longstanding presence in the downtown area and the beginning of a new chapter in Foundation Park. The economic impact of the move, both in terms of job creation and potential redevelopment opportunities, will be closely watched in the coming months.
