Simmons Foods A Homegrown Arkansas Company With Deep Roots in Benton County s Siloam Springs-based Simmons Foods is a third-generation, familyowned company that has called Arkansas home since 1949. A key ingredient in Simmons Foods’ homegrown recipe for growth has been a strong foundation of solid family values. “My father and grandfather built this company on strong family values like hard work and treating people right. Today we are proud of the fact that the majority of our 7,000 team members call Arkansas their home too,” said Todd Simmons, CEO of Simmons Foods, Inc. and Affiliates. On September 27, 2017, Governor Asa Hutchinson announced Simmons Prepared Foods was building a $300 million, 350,000 square foot poultry processing facility in Benton County on 870 acres between Decatur and Gentry off Highway 59. The site allows for both the future expansion and the creation of a campus-like environment for the benefit of the Simmons team members who will work at the new location. The production facility will incorporate the newest production technologies and ergonomicallydesigned work areas. Simmons Prepared Foods is nationally and internationally recognized for its unique ability to supply highly customized products to the foodservice industry. Bolstering the local economy Benton County officials expect the new poultry processing facility, coupled with Simmons’ other operations in the area, will continue to bolster the economy in the region with more jobs. The additional jobs, payroll and tax dollars going into Benton County will help this region thrive for years to come. Payroll projections for the processing facility, based on current hourly wages and operating at full capacity in 2022, are projected to be more than $86 million annually, which will be infused into Benton County and surrounding area economies. The resulting demand for new and expanded serviceoriented businesses, such as retail stores, grocery stores, and desirable commercial and residential development will help boost the local economy. Simmons estimates it will pay $2 million annually in water rates to the City of Gentry and an estimated $2.6 million annually in sewer rates to the City of Decatur. Simmons is proud to use local businesses and suppliers at every opportunity. Poultry farmers also have an opportunity to improve their businesses as Simmons plans to contract with existing and new grower partners to meet the demand for chickens for the new processing facility. That means an estimated 218 additional chicken houses will be needed in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri with more than 50 percent of these new houses expected to be on existing farms. In addition to the new facility, Simmons’ already has existing operations in the Benton County area that include a feed mill, hatchery, propane distribution, business offices and a chicken processing facility, along with a dry pet food production facility operated by Simmons Pet Food. ARKANSAS GROWN 69
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