SMITHFIELD, VA. — Smithfield Foods announced on Oct. 9 that it would close its pork processing plant in Charlotte, NC. The company plans to transfer production to its Tar Heel, NC, facility for increased efficiency and better use of existing capacity. 

Smithfield stated it would provide financial and other transition assistance to 107 employees affected by this closure and would meet with employees to discuss options, including transfer to other locations. 

The company said it would offer an incentive package for hourly employees to stay at the Charlotte plant until the final production day scheduled for December.

“Providing transition support to our Charlotte employees is our number-one priority,” said Doug Sutton, chief manufacturing officer for Smithfield Foods. “We appreciate their commitment to producing good food responsibly, and we hope many of them will continue in roles at other Smithfield locations.”

Smithfield employs more than 10,000 people in the state of North Carolina and nearly 40,000 people in the United States.

The Tar Heel facility was featured in the October issue of MEAT+POULTRY magazine.