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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Swift Prepared Foods Plans Columbia, Missouri, Meats Production Facility

04/22/2021
Swift Prepared Foods, a consumer packaged goods company and subsidiary of JBS USA, will Invest $200 million to build a new Italian meats and charcuterie production facility in Columbia, Missouri. The company plans to create 251 jobs.

A 275,000-square-foot plant is scheduled to open next year, followed a few years later by an additional 50,000-square-foot building costing $35 million. The location is 80 acres along Paris Road, next to Schneider Electric and 3M and near Kraft Heinz, Aurora Organic Dairy and Quaker.

“We are excited to join the Columbia community and to bring good-paying jobs and innovation to the area with the addition of this new, state-of-the-art facility,” said Thomas Lopez, president and COO, Swift Prepared Foods. “After an extensive review of potential locations, we are confident that Columbia is a great fit for our company, and this decision supports the continued growth we are focused on achieving.”

For their expansion, Swift Prepared Foods used the Missouri Works program, an incentive tool to help companies expand and retain workers by providing access to capital through withholdings or tax credits for job creation. The company is also partnering with Missouri One Start to provide tailored recruitment assistance to meet the company’s specific workforce needs. Missouri One Start’s professional training network ensures companies have the right workforce with the right skillset when they need it.

“We’re excited to welcome Swift Prepared Foods to Columbia,” Governor Mike Parson said. “Missouri is a great place for the company to grow its business and develop a world-class workforce. This investment and the jobs it will create will provide many new opportunities for the mid-Missouri region, and we look forward to seeing the company succeed for years to come.”

As an incentive, Boone County, through Chapter 100 Revenue Bonds, approved 75% property tax forgiveness for the company for 10 years. With the 75% property tax forgiveness, it still would produce property tax revenue of $3.7 million, including $3.2 million for the Columbia School District and $213,747 for the City of Columbia. The state also offered incentives to the company.

“This project will further solidify Columbia’s standing in the food manufacturing industry, complementing other great Columbia employers like Aurora Organic Dairy, Kraft Heinz, Quaker Oats and Beyond Meat,” said Columbia Mayor Brian Treece. “Having Swift Prepared Foods in our community will bring new living-wage jobs and career opportunities for Columbia families.”

According to state officials, the company chose Columbia for its strategic location, business-friendly environment, the ability to access raw material, and leverage partnerships with their existing assets.

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