Triumph Foods plans second expansion of plant on export boom

Sharply higher exports during the first half of 2008 has prompted Triumph Foods to plan for further expansion at its St. Josef, Missouri plant, according to the St. Joseph News-Press.

The company is reportedly making plans for a US$4 million expansion to its facility in St Joseph on top of US$15 million already committed to an earlier expansion at the same plant.

The first expansion saw the addition of expanded equilibration bays, new CO2 stunning equipment and a new freezer facility.

The second expansion, which would add nearly 10,000 square feet to the Triumph plant, would enable the company to produce sliced pork bellies and diced pork, both of which are in high demand in Asia.

The addition should be completed by year-end, chief administrative officer Patt Lilly told the newspaper.

Triumph employs some 2,500 workers and processes 18,000 hogs per day.

The company saw exports growing 43 percent in the first half of the year, mainly to countries such as China, Russia, and Japan.