Arkansas has an abundance of resources to help food processing companies succeed. The Arkansas Economic Development Commission works directly with food processing companies looking to start-up, expand or relocate. In addition, we assist companies with finding the best incentives so companies are able to make money quickly and efficiently.
There were 522 food and beverage companies in Arkansas at the end of 2022. These companies employed 55,130 people. Arkansas is home to Tyson Foods and numerous other food processing facilities, including Nestle, JBS USA, Kraft Heinz, Mars Inc., Cargill Inc., Hormel Foods Corp, Riceland Foods, Pilgrim’s Pride, ConAgra Brands Inc., Land O’ Frost and Frito-Lay, Inc.
Arkansas has the 5th largest percentage of food processing workers in the United States. The growth rate of the food and beverage industry from 2017 to 2022 was 6 percent in Arkansas.
The food processing industry is booming in Arkansas and continues to grow exponentially. Eight of the top 10 food and beverage companies by revenue in the world have manufacturing facilities in the state.
Arkansas is meeting the workforce needs for food processing companies. The state now has the second-largest number of food processing workers in the US and Arkansas has responded to industry growth by modernizing the workforce.
Dan Sanker is a man with a vision: for companies of all sizes to have efficient, cost-effective warehousing and distribution systems. For small and midsize suppliers, it’s often not affordable to invest in their own supply chain management. Trucks go out half-empty, and the cost of wasted time and capital is passed on to consumers.
Sanker opened CaseStack in Santa Monica, California, in 1999. Using technology platforms, CaseStack consolidates clients’ products into a network of deliveries heading to the same distribution center, store or warehouse into one truckload delivery. In turn, CaseStack coordinates a national network of suppliers to deliver to large retailers like Amazon, Kroger, Sam’s Club, Target and Walmart.
By 2008, he was looking for a place to expand his business to a more central location. Fayetteville, Arkansas, proved to be an ideal location, not only because of its geographic position; but also because of the many retailers, suppliers and logistics companies in the region, as well as the University of Arkansas.
Arkansas’ business-friendly environment has given CaseStack opportunities to grow its freight consolidation programs. “When you’re a business in Arkansas,” Sanker said, “you get attention and cooperation and a collaborative environment with the state, the university system, and the local government, that you just can’t get in a big city.” In turn, CaseStack helps elevate the tech industry in Arkansas, bringing new expertise into the field of logistics in a region where delivery, warehousing and distribution are an integral part of the economy.
The Fayetteville office is both the company’s regional headquarters and its center for sustainability. CaseStack’s customers have saved about 40 percent in logistical costs while improving time efficiency by 20 percent each year. The company’s “Delivered Green” program saves more than 24 million pounds in carbon dioxide emissions every year.
You can learn more about how CaseStack is quickly becoming the industry leader of retail logistics and the role Fayetteville, Arkansas, has played in its success by downloading our case study.
Opportunities for technology businesses abound in Arkansas. Could your business be the next success story?
