Cargill has confirmed that it is not going to rebuild its meat plant in Booneville, Arkansas, after it was destroyed in an explosion last month.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more


“The decision to not rebuild in Booneville was agonizing, especially since local and state officials have been very supportive of Cargill staying in the area,” said John O’Carroll, Cargill Value Added Meats president. “We also know that the great people we employed at Booneville will be disappointed as well, although we hope they are well on their way to finding other employment.”


The plant employed 800 people.


CVAM says that building a plant would take up to 22 months, which is much longer than the company originally estimated.


“We need to rebuild the business now to take care of our customers,” O’Carroll said. “We can do that by making use of existing space at other facilities, but not if we waited up to 22 months to build a new plant.”

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Some Booneville’s production has already been moved to other Cargill facilities. O’Carroll said that CVAM will look to installing new equipment at other plants to increase production at other locations.

Just Food Excellence Awards - The Benefits of Entering

Gain the recognition you deserve! The Just Food Excellence Awards celebrate innovation, leadership, and impact. By entering, you showcase your achievements, elevate your industry profile, and position yourself among top leaders driving food industry advancements. Don’t miss your chance to stand out—submit your entry today!

Nominate Now