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.
For more than half a century, Americo Vinyl & Fabric in West Memphis, Arkansas, has served the restaurant industry with quality linen and vinyl table covers and upholstery. But the arrival of Covid-19 forced businesses in the restaurant and hospitality industry to close their doors. Almost overnight, Americo’s phones stopped ringing and orders dried up.
“When the social distancing guidelines were announced, our strong start to the new year came to an abrupt halt. Our tough situation became even more grim with the mandated closure of all eat-in facilities,” said owner Woody Rigdon.
But it wasn’t long before the company found a way to make a positive impact during the epidemic. Americo employees used their skills and resources to shift gears when they saw a need in their community to produce cotton facemasks and isolation gowns for local hospitals.
Due to the high demand of facemasks and other personal protective equipment, Americo is currently in the process of outfitting its facility with proper equipment for the task to streamline the process to get even more masks and other PPE in the hands of those on the frontlines battling this pandemic.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to do our part,” Rigdon said.
