New food production company coming to Mt. Pleasant

MT. PLEASANT — A food production company which produces products similar to West Liberty Foods recently acquired a facility in Mt. Pleasant.

Last October, West Liberty foods announced they would begin the process of shutting down their facility in Mt. Pleasant at the end of 2022, and all operations would cease on May 7.

With the loss of approximately 350 jobs, the Mt. Pleasant community responded with shock.

“Any time a business leaves your community, it is a huge impact,” City Council member and Mayor Pro Tem Steve Engberg said at the time of the announcement.

Mt. Pleasant Mayor Steve Brimhall stated, “Hopefully [West Liberty Foods] will be able to sell that building quickly and we can get another business in there.”

Brimhall and the Mt. Pleasant community may be able to breathe a little easier with an announcement from food production company, Sigma Alimentos.

Less than six months following the announcement of West Liberty Foods’ closure, Sigma Alimentos announced their acquisition of a food production plant in Mt. Pleasant with a news release on March 30.

According to the release, the company paid $12.4 million for the plant which will produce lunch meats from the Bar-S and FUD brands which they will distribute nationwide.

“Sigma’s diversified portfolio includes over 100 brands spanning across different categories and market segments, such as FUD, Campofrio, Bar-S, San Rafael, Aoste, La Villita, Fiorucci, Chimex, Navidul, Justin Bridou, and Sosua, to name a few,” the company stated.

“This investment is part of our ongoing efforts to expand capacity in the region to better serve customers and consumers, as well as to continue delivering value to all stakeholders. We look forward to creating strong ties with the local community through our first facility in Iowa,” Sigma U.S. CEO Jesus Lobo said.

According to a representative of Sigma’s communications team, this location will join six other production facilities that the company already operates in the United States.

Sigma, headquartered in San Pedro, Mexico, also operates in 18 other countries throughout North and South America.

“We have a track record of high quality and great tasting products and have set in motion plans to expand production in the country,” the representative said. “The qualifications and dedication of the local workforce are some of the reasons why we are interested in growing our presence in the region.”

According to the communications representative, the company is currently filling more than 150 open positions in their first stage.

While this does not fill those 350 jobs lost with the closing of West Liberty Foods, Sigma does plan to continue expanding production at the Mt. Pleasant site.

“It’s great news for our community,” Mt. Pleasant Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rachel Lindeen commented on the acquisition. “We are excited to have Sigma be a part of the Mt. Pleasant Community.”

Neither company has announced a date when Sigma will begin their production in Mt. Pleasant at this time.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com