COLUMBUS, Ohio – Officials with Bob Evans Farms Inc., announced on Aug. 9 that its Galva, Ill.-based fresh sausage processing plant is closing immediately. The facility, where fresh sausage links and rolls have been produced for 36 years, is being shuttered in response to the company’s excess capacity and the shrinking sow herd throughout the U.S. market.

“Our business model needs to adapt to these tough market conditions,” said Mike Townsley, president of Bob Evans Food Products. “We need to manage our assets to stay competitive long term.”

The plant employed approximately 70 workers and the company is offering them opportunities to transfer to jobs within its system. It operates four other sausage processing plants in three other states, including Texas, Michigan and two in Ohio.

“This was a very difficult decision,” Townsley added. “We have great employees at our Galva facility, and we have a long history there.”