Data Double

You may have heard Tyson Foods Inc. of Springdale will soon expand its already-large footprint in the food industry — the $8.55 billion acquisition of Chicago-based The Hillshire Brands Co. is expected to close in September — and with expansion usually comes construction.

Travelers on Cambridge Street have no doubt noticed the dirt work that’s being done on approximately 20 acres just north of Tyson headquarters

The building permit hasn’t been purchased yet, but Crossland Construction will soon begin building a second data center for the food industry company.

The building, which will provide additional capacity for the information systems that support Tyson business operations, will contain a total of about 19,000 SF and it’s scheduled to be finished by late summer 2015.

Tyson won a bidding war in June with its offer to acquire The Hillshire Brands Co.

The combination of Tyson and Hillshire Brands would reposition Tyson as a clear leader in the retail sale of prepared foods.