Mexico-based Sigma Alimentos acquired the closing West Liberty Foods plant in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.
A multinational food company, Sigma operates in 18 countries in North America, South America and Europe. Its operations include more than 60 plants and more than 180 distribution centres.
According to a press release from Sigma, it acquired the plant for US$1.24 million, and will use it to produce lunchmeats carrying the Bar-S and FUD labels. The products produced there will be distributed throughout the US
“This investment is part of our ongoing efforts to expand capacity in the region to better serve customers and consumers, as well as to continue delivering value to all stakeholders. We look forward to creating strong ties with the local community through our first facility in Iowa,” said Sigma US CEO Jesus Lobo.
While Sigma’s release did not identify the new facility as the closing West Liberty Foods plants, several local media outlets, including the Southeast Iowa Union, reported that it was the West Liberty facility.
West Liberty Foods announced the planned closure of the plant in October 2022. At the time, it said the closure would be done in two phrases, with a proposed last date of operation being May 7. It said its decision to cease operations there was due to a recent shift in the types of products and capabilities to support its customers, and that shift resulted in a drastic reduction in pre-sliced deli meats, which left the facility and its equipment unmatched to West Liberty Foods’ future needs.
Production from the Mount Pleasant plant is being absorbed into West Liberty Foods other facilities in Iowa, Illinois and Utah.
West Liberty Foods opened the facility in 2003. At the time the company announced that the facility would shut down, there were about 350 people employed there.
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