Butterball plans to expand the company's processing plant in Raeford, North Carolina to include a turkey bacon production line.
Butterball plans to expand the company's processing plant in Raeford, North Carolina to include a turkey bacon production line. (photo: Butterball)
 
Butterball announced plans to expand operations at the company’s processing plant in Raeford, North Carolina, to include a turkey bacon line. The company expects to invest $20 million in the project, which will add 50 jobs the plant workforce of 100 employees.

The North Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) authorized a $500,000 grant to support the renovation of the 244,950-sq.-ft. building. Butterball previously received a Community Development Block Grant of $390,750 toward installation of 4,900 linear-feet of 12-in. water main to accommodate the expansion.

“When Butterball opened the Raeford plant in 2015, we knew we had a great workforce and a state of the art facility, but the overall operation has exceeded our expectations,” said Barry Gum, Butterball CFO. “Butterball appreciates the continued support of the City of Raeford, Hoke County, NC’s Southeast and the State of North Carolina. We are a proud North Carolina-based company and are excited about the opportunity to continue to grow our business within the state.”

Garner, North Carolina-based Butterball acquired the Raeford turkey cook plant in 2015 from House of Raeford. The company is co-owned by Seaboard Corp. in Lenexa, Kansas.