US pork processor Smithfield Foods today (Monday) denied that it had made any decision to build a new beef plant.


Responding to a story published on Friday in Cattle Buyers Weekly the company said that, “as part of its ongoing strategic business planning, the company has had early, exploratory discussions concerning the feasibility of constructing a beef plant. However, the company has not yet determined the economic benefits of constructing a plant and is not near a final decision regarding the ultimate feasibility of such a plant.”