Swift Prepared Foods opens $200M facility in Missouri

Swift Prepared Foods, a JBS USA subsidiary, has invested more than $200 million in a new processing facility in Missouri.

The 325,000-square-foot Principe Foods facility, which produces Italian meats and charcuterie, opened April 6. Company executives joined local, regional and state leaders for a ribbon cutting in Columbia.

“We are excited to welcome Principe Foods to Missouri,” Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said in a news release. “More than 400 companies in the food industry are currently operating in Missouri, and that figure continues to grow thanks to world-class companies like JBS USA and Swift Prepared Foods investing in our state. This facility will provide many new opportunities for the mid-Missouri region, and we look forward to seeing the company succeed for years to come.”

Principe Foods has already created 100 jobs in the region, according to the release, with an additional 100 to 200 hires expected during the next year.

“We are very pleased to celebrate the opening of this state-of-the-art Italian meats facility in Columbia, Missouri,” said Tom Lopez, president of Swift Prepared Foods. “This is the culmination of years of hard work and investment by our team and our partners in Missouri. We are grateful for the support we’ve received up to this point and look forward to the ongoing growth of this facility and the Principe Italia brand.”

Swift Prepared Foods announced plans to build the new facility in Columbia in April 2021 to meet increasing retail and food service demand for Italian meats and charcuterie. The company selected Columbia because of its strategic location and business-friendly environment, according to the release.

“The city of Columbia is incredibly proud to be the home of this new facility,” said Mayor Barbara Buffaloe. “Our community strives to be a great place for everyone to live and work, and the many resources we have to offer allow us to attract great partners, like Principe Foods, to achieve this vision. This facility is an investment in our community and adds to our thriving manufacturing environment.”

In May 2021, Swift opened a bacon production facility in Moberly, Missouri, as part of JBS USA’s long-term strategy to increase its portfolio. JBS USA is a leading global food company providing products including meat, poultry and seafood to customers in more than 100 countries on six continents.