JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Bruss Company, a subsidiary of Tyson Foods, Inc., announced it would build a new steak-cutting plant in Jacksonville, Fla. that will employ up to 200 people with an annual payroll of $8 million.

The Chicago-based company, which specializes in portion-controlled steaks and chops for the foodservice segment, will spend more than $11 million to buy and renovate a 47,000 sq.-ft. meat processing facility in an industrial park in northwest Jacksonville. The company expects to begin hiring workers for the plant by mid-2012.

“We’re expanding our business and opening a second plant to improve our ability to serve the company’s growing customer base in the southeastern US and believe Jacksonville best suits our needs,” said Tony Cericola, general manager of The Bruss Company. “The location, availability of an existing food production facility and the tremendous support of the city and the state have been key factors in our decision to locate here.”