Augusta-based FPL Food, LLC sells Columbia, S.C. Plant

Staff Report From Augusta CEO

Monday, March 7th, 2016

FPL Food, LLC, the largest privately-owned processor of fresh beef and ground beef products in the Southeast, announced today the sale of their ground beef processing plant in Columbia, S.C. to Cargill, Inc. Terms of the purchase were not disclosed and the transaction is expected to be finalized near the end of March.
 
“I am pleased our ground beef plant will be in the hands of a company that truly values the products and people who produce them, said Francois Léger, president and CEO of FPL Food, LLC.  “We’re looking forward to remaining a key supplier of quality beef to the plant.  This sale allows FPL Food to focus on its core business of raising and harvesting cattle.  It is a win-win scenario for ground beef customers, plant employees, the community, FPL Food and Cargill.”    
 
FPL Food will continue to own and operate its main plant harvest facility in Augusta, GA, it’s added value facility in Thomasville, GA as well as Châtel Farms, its 1,100 acre farm in Southeast GA.
 
“The sale of the Columbia plant will allow us to focus on our harvest facility in Augusta, GA and the development of branded boxed and ground beef programs for our growing foodservice, retail and international customers,” added Léger. “With changes in market conditions as well as shifting consumer demands, we are working to adapt our business to meet the needs of our customers. We are looking forward to growing our single source regional beef cattle program with the integration of our farm, our harvest facility and the customers we serve in the Southeastern U.S.”