Simmons Feed Ingredients, an affiliate of Simmons Foods, Inc. & Affiliates, broke ground this week on an 89,125-square-foot facility and will add 78 new jobs.
Workers at the new pet food facility in the Northwest Arkansas city of Siloam Springs will produce fresh and frozen meat ingredients for pet food manufacturers. The company plans to invest about $26 million in the facility.
“The pet food industry requires ingredient integrity, traceability and safety,” said Todd Simmons, the chief executive officer of Simmons Foods since 2012. “We’re really proud of the work our team has done in setting a new standard for how ingredients are produced. We’re excited to see this innovative facility here in Arkansas.
“We’re very thankful for the support from our state and community leaders. They made it possible for us to keep this project local.”
Simmons Foods, a producer of poultry, pet food and ingredient products, is one of the state’s largest private companies and employs more than 1,200 people in its Siloam Springs operations.
The company combines proprietary processes and its extensive experience in food production to develop innovative, top-quality ingredients for pet food manufacturers.
“Arkansas is fortunate to have a company like Simmons Foods here in our state,” said Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. “Simmons has an emphasis on strong family values and an exemplary workforce that have driven the company to today’s significant expansion announcement. Their business model is an inspiration for entrepreneurs throughout the state.”
Founded in 1949, Simmons Foods has been known for its business foresight, innovation, and loyalty to its customers and community. In the late 1990s, the company began to concentrate on business-to-business customers. Some customer relationships go back almost 50 years.
“The Simmons history goes back many decades in Siloam Springs,” said Siloam Springs City Administrator Phillip Patterson. “Simmons is a great corporate partner here, and having them build this facility here is a huge acknowledgement that they want to be here and reinvest in the community.”
