Combined, these Butterball line expansions add approximately 90 positions to the payroll and help streamline operations practices within the plant.

As a proud member of the Carthage community, Butterball has made a commitment to utilize locally-sold products and local contractors wherever possible throughout its expansions, helping to generate a positive economic impact by creating new jobs within the community.

“Butterball is excited to announce three new product line additions at our Carthage plant, which creates nearly 100 new jobs for the local community,” said John Lenahan, complex manager at Butterball’s Carthage facility.

“These expansions will not only help meet the growing demand for Butterball products across the US, but they’ll also strengthen the existing economic partnership between the company and the state of Missouri.”

Butterball-Carthage, a 1,300 square foot, 600-employee facility has experienced great success from its recent burger line expansion, which started its first shift of production in February 2012.

This success has pushed plans for a second shift a year ahead of schedule, which began in June and created approximately 40 new jobs for the plant. The burger line expansion is expected to help Butterball turn out burgers for retail sale at a projected rate of 11 million pounds per year.

Additionally, a new roll stock roast line, which began in May at the Carthage plant, incorporates a new form of packaging created to meet the wants and needs of foodservice customers and adds approximately 20 jobs at the facility. At a projected output of 8 million pounds of turkey breast per year, the roll stock line advances both the machine and space utilization within the Carthage plant while promoting Butterball’s overall sustainability goals.

Lastly, a new tray pack line will begin running in October 2012 to produce packaged ground turkey for consumer markets. The new line, projected to turn out approximately 14 million pounds of ground turkey per year, will add two new shifts and create more than 30 local jobs in the community. The tray pack line is expected to gradually grow its production numbers until it reaches a target output of 20 million pounds per year.

Currently producing both the Sweet Onion Seasoned and Original Seasoned Frozen Turkey Burgers, Butterball-Carthage remains on-track to take control of all Butterball retail burger production by September 2012. Both turkey burger flavors are available for purchase at Carthage Walmart locations and retail stores nationwide.