National Beef Packing Co., LLC, Kansas City, Mo., announced plans to expand its Hummels Wharf, Pa., processing facility. The $5 million expansion will include the latest technology and equipment necessary to grind and package ground beef, giving the facility the capability to significantly expand ground beef production.

“This expansion is important to our business, as it positions us with greater flexibility to serve customers in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic areas of the United States,” says Monte Lowe, executive vice president, sales and marketing. “It also extends our product offering to include multiple package formats and lean points.”

The expansion begins immediately with the addition of new technology and equipment to the facility. Grinding operations will be added in March 2014. To support these new operations, the company is planning to hire 25-30 employees. Currently, there are more than 200 employees on site at Hummels Wharf.

“The committed and dedicated employees have been a driving force in the overall success of this facility,” says Mitch Hansen, vice president, operations. “Hummels Wharf has been an integral part of the National Beef case-ready products production system for more than a decade, so we are excited about the possibilities this expansion will bring to our team.”