Fayetteville expansion

Tyson Foods announced Thursday (Jan. 4) it will add 60 employees at its Mexican Original tortilla plant in Fayetteville as part of a $7 million expansion.

The expansion will add two lines to produce a new item for a national foodservice customer. About 120,000 square foot of existing space will be renovated for the new lines.

Tyson officials said the expansion will eventually require an additional 60 people be hired to run the lines for three shifts. The timeline for hiring is early- to mid-January. The plant now employs about 500 people, according to the Tyson statement.

“We’re excited about producing this new product in partnership with our customer,” Richard Irvin, complex manager of Mexican Original, noted in the statement. “We helped them develop a product that meets their needs and should help grow their business. This is a textbook example of us seeking to be our customers’ go-to supplier.”

Mexican Original is the nation’s second largest manufacturer of tortillas, which are sold to foodservice and restaurant customers, noted the Tyson statement. The Fayetteville Mexican Original plant is one of the company’s three dedicated tortilla operations. The others are in Portland, Ind., and Sanford, N.C.

Springdale-based Tyson Foods is one of the world’s largest meat processing and distribution companies. The company employs about 115,000 people in more than 130 countries.