JBS USA reached an agreement with J&B Group, Inc., to lease J&B’s value-added meat processing facility in Pipestone, Minnesota, with the intent to acquire this facility in the upcoming months for an undisclosed amount.
The facility was destined for imminent closure, according to a press release from JBS.
The pending acquisition means the facility will join JBS USA, a leading U.S.-based food company. It also means that the more than 130 jobs at the facility will be saved, and facility will remain a significant economic contributor to the Pipestone community for years to come.
“We are excited to welcome the Pipestone team members to JBS USA,” said Bob Krebs, COO, JBS USA Pork. “We have worked with the J&B team under the common goals of preserving jobs and creating a sustainable future for the facility. We believe the facility’s infrastructure and accomplished workforce present a great opportunity to expand our ability to provide high-quality products to both domestic and export markets. We plan on investing in the facility and growing the business, allowing our new team members and the local community to grow with us.”
On September 18, 2019, J&B Group, Inc., announced that the Pipestone facility would be sold and production relocated to its facility in St. Michael, Minnesota. Before JBS USA’s plan to purchase, J&B had not identified a buyer and the facility was scheduled for closure in this month.
JBS USA, headquartered in Greeley, Colorado, is the United States unit of Brazil-based JBS SA. In addition to being a leading pork and beef company, JBS is the world’s largest poultry company, and is a majority shareholder of Pilgrim’s Pride, which according to the WATTAgNet Top Poultry Companies Database, is the second-largest poultry company in the United States.
