FPL Food LLC will re-open its beef harvest facility in Augusta, Ga., on May 27, four weeks ahead of schedule.

FPL Food closed the 200,000-sq.-ft. plant for repairs after an electrical fire broke out in the ceiling over the harvest floor in early April. The repairs took eight weeks to complete. Meanwhile, the company made plans to move production to its other plants in Thomasville, Ga., and Columbia, SC. Approximately 500 people work at the Augusta plant which is the slaughtering and boxed-beef facility for the vertically integrated company.

“We thank our employees and customers for their patience throughout the time taken to repair the harvest facility,” said an FPL Food spokesman. “We also thank all partners involved for repairing the facility in an efficient and professional manner allowing us to minimize our down time.”

Cattle supplies were not interrupted, although the company was forced to modify production schedules.