Meat+Poultry - March 2021 - bacon - 12

PLANT O PER ATIONS

Wright time
Wright Brand bacon expands
operations in Vernon, Texas
By Erica Shaffer
e sh affe r@ so sl and.com

Tyson Foods will increase
production at its Wright
Brand bacon plant in
Vernon, Texas, with a
$26 million investment
in the facility.

Vernon community and look forward to growing
our team with the additional positions and meeting the growing demand for our products. "
Hiring for these positions starts immediately,
Bonfy said.
Vernon Mayor Pam Gosline added, " I am
extremely excited about the addition and
enhancements to the Wright Brand facility in
Vernon, Texas. Adding jobs is nothing but great
news for our community. Tyson Foods is and
always has been a vital ingredient to the growth
of Vernon, and we are very thankful to them for
all they do for our community. Vernon is proud to
be the home of Wright Brand Bacon since 1922. "
Tyson expects the expansion to meet current
demand while allowing room for additional growth.
The bacon category has seen volume growth, up
18% since 2017, the company said. Wright Brand
Bacon production volume surpassed category
growth during this same time period by 29%.
" We're pleased we can continue to build on
the proud heritage of this iconic and delicious
brand, " said Noelle O'Mara, group president of
Prepared Foods. " More importantly, we've had a
strong presence in Vernon for nearly 100 years
as one of the largest employers. It's an honor to
continue that long history by adding new jobs in
the local community. "
Wright Brand bacon is available in hickory
smoked, applewood smoked, double smoke and
maple flavors.

Tyson Foods Inc.

yson Foods Inc., Springdale, Ark., is
starting 2021 with a capital improvement
project that will increase production
of its Wright Brand bacon. The company announced an investment of $26
million toward an expansion of the
Vernon, Texas, bacon processing plant
where the iconic bacon is made.
The Wright Brand has been well known for
its hand trimmed and thick-cut, wood-smoked
bacon for almost 100 years.
Egbert Eggleston, his son, Fay, and Roy
Wright, Egbert's son-in-law, founded Vernon
Meat Co. in 1922 in the back of a Vernon grocery
store. The company evolved through the years
as it was handed down from generation to generation, first as Wright Packaging Co. and then as
Wright Brand foods. The family sold its company
to Corporate Brands Foods America (CBFA) in
1999. Then in 2001, when Tyson Foods acquired
IBP Inc., the deal included CBFA companies
including Wright Brand Foods.
Under Tyson's ownership, Wright Brand
bacon continued to be produced in the Vernon
facility. The expansion project is scheduled for
completion by March of 2021 and is expected to
create 32 new jobs, bringing total employment at
the plant to more than 800 people.
" This project is great news for our plant, our
community and our customers, " said Dane Bonfy,
manager of the Wright Brand plant. " We love the
2021 BACON TRENDS + TECHNOLOGY MEAT+ POULTRY

PRV-2021
Bacon_MP_0321.indb 12

3/2/2021 1:41:04 PM

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