Central Beef is apparently closing its doors, at least through May 31 and potentially permanently.
Central Beef, Florida’s largest beef packer, is closing its doors any laying off its 214 employees. The company, located in Center Hill, filed notice with the state that its employees will be laid off through May 31, reports The Daily Commercial. The company did not comment on the notice when contacted by the newspaper.
Jada Ciftci, an economic development professional with Sumter County’s Economic Development division, said, based on a notice received from Central Beef, the 71-year-old company is facing a lack of capital and can’t get investors. She said the division has reached out to the company with an offer to help find a buyer for the plant.
Central Beef was founded in 1945 and supplies beef products to restaurants, retailers and other processors. It has been estimated that the company processes 75 percent of the cattle slaughtered in Florida.
