OMP Foods, the parent company of Ozark Mountain Poultry, has finalized the purchase of a poultry plant in Batesville, Ark. The plant, which was previously owned by Pilgrim's, is scheduled to open November 11, and will employ 250 workers.
Pilgrim's on August 21 had announced its intent to close and sell the poultry plant, as it was the smallest plant within the company and only accounted for 1 percent of Pilgrim's sales. OMP Foods later confirmed it was negotiating with Pilgrim's about the purchase of the plant, and on November 1 confirmed the purchase was finalized. A company spokesperson said OMP Foods will soon make a more formal announcement of the purchase.
Ozark Mountain Poultry produces more than 1.5 million pounds of hand-deboned, antibiotic-free poultry a week aimed at the restaurant industry and for use in its consumer brand, Forester Farmer's Market. The company says the addition of the Batesville plant will allow it to double its weekly production. OMP Foods, which is based out of Rogers, Ark., expects to hire more workers in Batesville as production capacity at the plant increases.
