Smithfield Foods, Inc. broke ground on a new $12 million bacon slicing plant at its Cudahy, Wisconsin facility today, Thursday, April 2, 2015.

The plant is expected to be fully operational by December 2015. The new 17,000-square-foot plant will include four slicing lines that will increase Smithfield Foods' bacon capacity by approximately 10 million pounds. It will be built in the same area that was destroyed by a fire in July 2009.

"We are very excited about our new facility because it will enhance our competitiveness and help to secure the future of our bacon business and the jobs associated with it," said Daniel Kapella, president of Patrick Cudahy, Smithfield Foods Packaged Meats Division. Initially, the new plant will not require additional employment.

"Smithfield Foods' new plant in Cudahy represents not only a significant investment in our community, but also emphasizes the company's ongoing commitment to our economic development," said Cudahy Mayor John Hohenfeldt.

This announcement underscores Smithfield's continued emphasis on growing its branded packaged meats business and comes on the heels of a recent organizational realignment whereby the company has unified all its independent operating companies, brands and marketing, including Patrick Cudahy, under one corporate umbrella.