Simmons Breaks Ground on Pet Food Ingredient Plant in Siloam Springs
by December 15, 2015 4:54 pm 250 views
Simmons Feed Ingredients, a division of Siloam Springs-based Simmons Foods Inc., on Tuesday announced the groundbreaking for an 89,000-SF pet food ingredient facility on a 16-acre lot at 1113 E. Ashley St.
The $26 million facility is expected to employ 78 fulltime positions and should be operational by November. The project partner is CRB Consulting Engineers Inc., a national firm headquartered in Kansas City.
According to a press release issued by Simmons, along with driving an estimated $50 million in economic impact for Arkansas, the new facility will be a “model for the future of ingredient production.”
“The pet food industry requires ingredient integrity, traceability and safety. We’re really proud of the work our team has done in setting a new standard for how ingredients are produced,” Todd Simmons, CEO of Simmons Foods, said in the news release. “We’re excited to see this innovative facility here in Arkansas.”
The project is supported by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and was aided in part by the Arkansas Advantage income tax credit, Tax Back sales and use tax refunds, and a $1 million wastewater grant.
Simmons Foods, a producer of poultry, pet food and ingredient products, is one of the state’s largest private companies and employs over 1,200 people in its Siloam Springs operations. The company combines proprietary processes and its extensive experience in food production to develop innovative, top-quality ingredients for pet food manufacturers.
“Arkansas is fortunate to have a company like Simmons Foods here in our state,” Gov. Asa Hutchinson said. “Simmons has an emphasis on strong family values and an exemplary workforce that have driven the company to today’s significant expansion announcement. Their business model is an inspiration for entrepreneurs throughout the state.”
Founded in 1949, Simmons Foods has been known for its business foresight, innovation and loyalty to its customers and community. In the late 1990s, the company began to concentrate on businesst-to-business customers. Some customer relationships go back almost 50 years.
“The Simmons history goes back many decades in Siloam Springs,” Siloam Springs city administrator Phillip Patterson said. “Simmons is a great corporate partner here, and having them build this facility here is a huge acknowledgement that they want to be here and reinvest in the community.”