United States-Smithfield expand beef plant.

UNITED STATES-SMITHFIELD FOOD EXPAND MEAT PLANT.

Smithfield Packing Co. plans to expand its Cumberland Gap plant in Middlesboro, Ky., as part of the reorganization Smithfield Foods announced last month.

The $7 million expansion will add up to 250 new jobs, the Associated Press quoted Smithfield Packing President Tim Schellpeper as saying. New smokehouses and packing equipment will enable it to produce smoked meat products under the Cumberland Gap and Smithfield brands.

In February, Smithfield Foods announced a major restructuring that included closing six plants by December 2009, resulting in a net reduction of approximately 1,800 jobs in the pork group.

As part of the reorganization, Smithfield said some production would be shifted to other plants.