Simmons Retools Siloam Springs Plant

On July 2, after almost half a century, Simmons Foods Inc. of Siloam Springs shipped its last tray pack of chicken to be sold in a retail store.

The tray packs contain cut, fresh chicken parts to be cooked by the consumer. Instead, Simmons is focusing on “premium fully cooked” and “individually frozen” chicken products, says Doug Siemens, a spokesman for the company.

Simmons is also concentrating on industrial food service clients, such as restaurants, instead of grocery stores.

With the shift in business, Simmons is retooling one of its Siloam Springs plants that was used to manufacture tray packs. On July 2, Nabholz Construction Co. began work on the renovation, which should be completed by the end of August, Siemens says.

The renovated plant will be used for further processing such as deboning. Siemens says none of the 450 employees there will be laid off as a result of the change. Many of those employees will be retrained or transferred to Simmons’ other plant in Siloam Springs, and another 30 to 50 employees will be hired to work at the renovated plant, he says.

The renovated plant will be similar in operation to a plant Simmons has in McAlester, Okla. Simmons has a total of seven plants.

Siemens wouldn’t give any numbers but said the renovation is a “significant investment.”