Monogram Food Solutions’ expansion to create 200 jobs in Henry County

Monogram Food Solutions LLC, a Memphis-based manufacturer of processed meats, will invest $36.5 million in expanding its meat-snacks production operation in the Henry County Patriot Centre Industrial Park.

The project is expect to create 200 new jobs. 

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the Martinsville-Henry County Economic Development Corp.
to secure the project for Virginia in competition with two other states.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe approved a $400,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist the county with the project.

The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission also approved $835,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds.

The company is eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.

The company will also be eligible to receive a Major Business Facility Job Tax Credit and sales and use tax exemptions on manufacturing equipment. Funding and services to support the company’s employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program.

Monogram was founded in 2004 when a group of Memphis investors bought the King Cotton and Circle B Brand Meats business from the Sara Lee Corp.  The company bought the Henry County building for its Monogram Meat Snacks division in 2009.

This latest expansion is the third at the Virginia plant.  “When we purchased the facility in 2009, there were about 125 associates. This expansion will take employment to over 600,” Karl Schledwitz, chairman and CEO of Monogram Food Solutions, said in a statement. 

Monogram Meat Snacks is one of the nation’s largest manufacturers of meat snacks, including jerky, meat and cheese snacks, kippered beef sticks and pickled sausages.

The meat snack brands include Wild Bill’s, O’Brien’s, Trail’s Best, Hannah’s, Bull’s and licensed brands Bass Pro Shop’s Uncle Buck’s, Johnsonville and Butterball.

Monogram Food Solutions also produces a wide variety of private-label meat snacks, smoked meats, corn dogs and pre-cooked bacon.

In addition to the Henry County plant, the company operates facilities in Minnesota, Indiana, Texas and Iowa.