Smithfield to close Massachusetts dry sausage plant

Group 1 - Social media trends around charcuterie boards have increased sales of salami, pepperoni, and other meats, with dry sausage expected to grow over 6% through 2030 [3] - Smithfield is consolidating its manufacturing network to offset inflation and reduce costs, including the acquisition of a Cargill plant to enhance production capacity [4] - The company has reduced costs by selling over one-third of its hogs and is investing in packaged meats, achieving a record operating profit in Q3 with a 9% sales increase in the packaged meat segment to $2.1 billion [5] Group 2 - Smithfield Foods will close a Massachusetts dry sausage plant, laying off 190 workers, with production being transferred to other facilities [7] - The company has expanded its production capacity for dry sausage with the purchase of a Cargill plant in Nashville, capable of producing 50 million pounds of pepperoni and charcuterie meat annually [7]