Sigma Alimentos makes its mark in Mt. Pleasant with community care and corn dogs

MT. PLEASANT — In April 2023, Sigma Alimentos announced its acquisition of the West Liberty Foods plant. Nearly a year and a half later, the company is working to make its mark in the Mt. Pleasant area known through outreach efforts, community donations, and local engagement.

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The company made a notable splash with a corn dog giveaway held on Saturday, Dec. 28, at the Sigma facility. During the event, people drove through the parking lot and received two boxes of Bar-S corn dogs. The event, which distributed 1,000 boxes, ended just before the 11 a.m. cutoff as supplies ran out.

After a positive reception from the public at the last giveaway, Sigma is going to do it again this Saturday, Jan. 11 from 8-11 a.m. or until they run out.

The giveaway served as an opportunity for Sigma Alimentos to introduce itself more broadly to the community. Talent Acquisition Specialist Chriselda Cardenas, who coordinated the event, said the initiative was part of a broader strategy to build local relationships and raise awareness about the company.

“We have eight plants in the U.S. Some of them do corn dogs, some of them do deli meat, and others produce Mexican cheeses,” Cardenas said of the company headquartered in Mexico. “We had a shipment of corn dogs sent to us, and after giving some to our employees and donating to our usual list of 11 pantries, we decided to host a community event to get the word out.”

Sigma’s Mt. Pleasant facility produces deli meats for well-known brands such as Bar-S and FUD. While the plant has maintained a low profile since the acquisition, largely due to a high employee retention rate and minimal hiring needs, Cardenas expressed excitement about future growth.

“At our facility, we’re probably at about a third or a quarter of our potential capacity. We haven’t been hiring much because our retention is really, really good,” she explained. “We just want to get the word out about who we are and what we do.”

The transition from West Liberty Foods to Sigma was not without its challenges. When West Liberty Foods began the process of shutting down their facility at the end of 2022, 350 jobs hung in the balance.

“It was kind of scary at first,” Cardenas admitted. “A lot of people left before we knew what was going to happen. But Sigma made offers to those who wanted to stay, including me and my husband. The people who stayed are here because they want to be, and the perks and support Sigma offers have been great.”

She went on to describe the uncertainty that many employees felt during the change.

“When Sigma came in, it was a big unknown for everyone,” said Cardenas. “Some people couldn’t wait around and needed work right away, so they moved on. But for those of us who stayed, we saw that Sigma was serious about keeping the plant going and taking care of its employees.”

Cardenas, who had been with West Liberty Foods for seven years before transferring to Sigma, noted the smoothness of the overall transition.

“Once everything settled, it became clear that Sigma was committed to making improvements and supporting the workforce,” she said. “The company has done a great job taking care of employees. People are staying because they want to be here, and that’s reflected in our retention numbers.”

Community outreach is a significant part of Sigma’s approach. In addition to the corn dog giveaway, the company regularly donates to local pantries in communities where its employees live.

“We donate to 11 pantries on a rotating basis,” said Cardenas. “These include locations in Washington, Columbus Junction, Burlington, New London, and of course, Mt. Pleasant.”

According to Cardenas donations are part of Sigma’s mission to support not only Mt. Pleasant but also surrounding communities.

“The whole donation idea started as a way to help our employees and their families. We wanted to go a step further and help the communities where our employees live,” she added.

Cardenas confirmed that pantries local to their employees are welcome to reach out if they would like information about being added to this list.

“If it fits in with what we’re doing, we’re always open to considering new partnerships with local pantries,” she said.

Sigma’s involvement doesn’t stop there. The company has also contributed to local schools, such as donating deli meat for sandwiches for the Mt. Pleasant High School football team’s away games.

“We want to support the communities where our employees live and work. It’s all about giving back,” Cardenas emphasized.

Looking ahead, Sigma plans to continue engaging with the community through similar events and initiatives. Cardenas hinted at future giveaways and donation drives.

“This was kind of a test run,” she said. “We want to do a couple more of these events each year, featuring different products. Our other facilities in the U.S. produce cheeses, hot dogs, bacon, and Polish sausage, so there are plenty of possibilities.”

Feedback from the corn dog giveaway was overwhelmingly positive. Local resident Angi Butcher, who attended the event, learned about it through Facebook.

“My daughter likes corn dogs, so we decided to go,” she said. “It was great! That’s a very nice thing to do for the people in the community and a smart way for the company to get their name out there.”

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While Butcher hasn’t yet tried the corn dogs, she expressed gratitude for the gesture and said she looks forward to supporting Sigma in the future.

When asked about the company’s visibility in the community, Butcher noted that she was aware of the acquisition.

“I read about the new company when they bought this plant,” she said. “I was super happy for the employees that had jobs at the old factory to be able to still have employment. I read some about them online but don’t know a lot. … I wish them luck in their future business.”

Human Resources Manager Rocío Diaz, who helped promote the event on social media, expressed appreciation for the community’s response.

“We appreciate everyone who was able to stop by,” said Diaz. “Today has provided us with valuable insights on areas for improvement. Production was ongoing, and we aimed to minimize any disruptions caused by traffic.”

Cardenas echoed Diaz’s sentiments, emphasizing the importance of community feedback.

“I know we did get a lot of comments from people who were driving through,” she said. “Most people were very excited to hear about Sigma and the possibility of future hiring. It was all very positive feedback.”

As Sigma continues to settle into Mt. Pleasant, its leadership is optimistic about the future. Cardenas mentioned a five-year growth plan that could result in more local job opportunities.

“We’re hoping to expand soon,” she said. “When that happens, it will likely bring more jobs than were initially here, which is exciting.”

In addition to job growth, Sigma plans to deepen its community involvement.

“We’re always looking for ways to do more,” said Cardenas. “Whether it’s supporting schools, donating to pantries, or hosting events, we want to be a positive presence in the community.”

For now, residents can expect more outreach events and charitable efforts from Sigma as the company continues to integrate into the local fabric of Mt. Pleasant.

“It’s a slow process because we’re still new, but there are a lot of good things coming,” said Cardenas. “We want people to know that Sigma is growing and committed to making a difference, both for our employees and the broader community.”

Cardenas also shared her hopes for future collaboration with local businesses and organizations.

“We’re in touch with Main Street Mt. Pleasant and the Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce,” she said. “We’re always looking for opportunities to partner on community events and initiatives.”

The corn dog giveaway, which saw participation from families across the area, marked just the beginning of Sigma’s larger outreach plan.

“We’re excited to do more,” Cardenas said. “This event showed us that people are interested in what we have to offer. We’re grateful for the community’s support and look forward to growing together.”

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com