Smithfield Foods offers a new downtown dining destination-Taste of Smithfield. The two-story, 8,700-square-foot restaurant shares its new building with Smithfield's retail store.

Smithfield Foods, Smithfield, Va., offers a new downtown dining destination-Taste of Smithfield. The two-story, 8,700-square-foot restaurant shares its new building at 217 Main Street with Smithfield's retail store, The Genuine Smithfield Ham Shoppe, previously located across the street at 224 Main Street.

Taste of Smithfield features Smithfield pork products, including Smithfield Innovation Kitchen Specials and Windsor Castle Box Lunches, along with "grab-and-go" salads, sandwiches and desserts.

"We're very excited about our new venture because we think it will help attract more visitors to our historic town, along with giving us a showplace for our products," says C. Larry Pope, president and CEO. "We've had a long and pleasant association with the town of Smithfield, dating back to when our company was founded in 1936, and we're delighted that our new building blends in so well with the many attractive neighboring stores along Main Street."

Pete Booker, vice president and general manager of the Smithfield Specialty Foods Group, will oversee this new joint venture combining retail and restaurant operations. Margaret Carroll will manage the Taste of Smithfield restaurant.