St. JOSEPH, Mo. – According to a statement from Triumph Foods, a $1.5 million expansion project at the pork processing plant has been completed and the production lines are slowly being introduced to production.

Previous expansions at the plant, which opened about 11 years ago, have included adding refrigeration and storage space as well as converting the slaughtering area to a controlled atmosphere stunning (CAS) system.

The latest expansion is expected to increase production and will add 72 full-time jobs at the plant with an average annual wage of $35,000 in addition to benefits. The company currently employs approximately 2,800 workers.

“St. Joseph is currently in a boom of economic development within the manufacturing sector and we are thrilled to be a part of it,” the company statement said.