Ozark Mountain Poultry Inc. will hold a ribbon-cutting facility this Friday for its new facility in Batesville, Ark. The plant’s former owner, Pilgrim’s Pride, announced in August that it would be closing the plant, and OMP Foods Inc. acquired the plant in a deal that closed on Nov. 1, reports Arkansas Business.
Ozark Mountain Poultry said it has hired approximately 250 people for its Batesville operation and could add to that number depending on production needs. The company said it produces 1.5 million pounds of anitbiotic-free chicken every week for restaurants and its consumer brand, Forester Farmer’s Market.
The company believes it will be able to double its weekly output to 3 million pounds with the addition of the Batesville facility.
“We are thrilled to be part of the Batesville community and to expand operations in our home state,” said Ed Fryar, the CEO of Ozark Mountain Poultry in a released statement. “With the purchase of the Batesville site, we will be able to meet the growing demands of consumers for healthy, antibiotic-free chicken.”
