One of the largest beef processing facilities in the eastern United States is preparing to shut down, bringing an end to a plant with roots dating back more than a century.
JBS USA announced it would permanently close its beef production facility in Souderton, Pennsylvania, on August 14 as part of a broader effort to strengthen its U.S. operations. The plant, located about 35 miles north of Philadelphia, has long been a major employer in Montgomery County and traces its history to the former Moyer Packing Company, founded in 1877.
Nearly 1,500 workers to be affected
According to Pennsylvania’s WARN database, the closure will result in 1,485 permanent layoffs. The single-shift facility processes approximately 2,000 head of cattle per day, making it one of the largest beef processing plants east of the Mississippi River.
JBS said production from the Souderton plant will be absorbed by other facilities within its network to maintain customer supply. The company added that affected employees will receive support during the transition and be encouraged to apply for openings at other JBS locations.
Company investing elsewhere
The Pennsylvania closure was announced alongside plans to shut down a value-added processing facility in Memphis, Tennessee, as JBS continues restructuring its manufacturing network. At the same time, the company said it is investing hundreds of millions of dollars to expand and modernize operations at other U.S. facilities, including projects in Texas, Iowa and Georgia.
The closure has raised concerns among cattle producers and businesses that rely on the Souderton plant, which has served as a key processing hub for livestock across the Northeast. Industry observers say the loss of the facility could increase transportation distances for producers and further reduce regional beef processing capacity at a time when the U.S. cattle supply remains historically tight.
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