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.
Your dollar goes further in Arkansas than anywhere else in the country. According to the Tax Foundation, Arkansas has the highest relative value of $100 at $117.23. This means that the same amount of money can buy comparatively more in Arkansas than other states.
The map below demonstrates purchasing power based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. $100 represents the amount of goods and services that can be bought in a state with average national prices.
Real purchasing power is more than 35 percent greater in Arkansas than it is in California. This means that, on average, someone earning $50,000 in after-tax income in Arkansas would need after-tax earnings of about $67,500 in California to maintain the same standard of living.
