AUGUSTA, GA. – FPL Food LLC, a vertically integrated beef processor, recently secured financing to expand the company’s facilities in Augusta, Ga. The first phase of the company’s multi-phased expansion plan includes rebuilding the harvest and fabrication facility.
FPL said the expansion would provide needed capacity to meet growing demand for its vertically integrated beef brands, including Châtel Farms, True To Nature and Southern River Farms Natural Beef. The company expect to further solidify its position as the Southeastern US beef processing leader with the expansion.
“Our company’s vision has always been to be a premier cattle producer and beef processor supporting Southeastern US agriculture and providing premium quality beef to meet demand from our growing customer base,” said Francois Leger, FPL Food founder and chief executive officer. “This expansion brings that vision to reality.”
FPL said expansion of the company’s carcass cooler and fabrication floor will kick off the first phase of the project. The work will allow FPL to operate a second shift and increase production of its Black Angus and Akaushi beef programs. FPL recently acquired the purebred Ankony Black Angus genetic herd and will use these genetics to build supplies of high-quality Black Angus cattle to accommodate the company’s Châtel Farms, Reidsville, Ga., backgrounding and cattle feeding operation. This initial phase is scheduled for completion in September 2021. The company expects to process up to 2,500 Black Angus and Akaushi fed cattle per week.
All phases of the expansion will be completed within the next three years, and throughput will increase to more than 5,000 head. FPL said these numbers will supplement the company’s current cow and bull processing and take total production to more than 10,000 head per week.
In addition to the Augusta beef harvest and processing facility, FPL Foods currently operates a ground beef facility in Thomasville, Ga.; Châtel Farms, a cattle feeding operation in Reidsville, Ga.; and Châtel Ankony purebred Black Angus production in Midville, Ga. FPL manages a steak cutting operation in Thomasville, Ga., that is owned by a major retailer.
FPL Food, LLC is one of the largest employers in Augusta and Thomasville, with more than 1,400 employees.