JBS, one of the world’s largest meat producers and a major Montgomery County employer, plans to close its beef processing facility in Souderton by Aug. 14, writes Ariana Perez-Castells for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
A Modernization Push Amid a Tightening Cattle Market
The company said the decision is part of a broader effort to modernize its U.S. operations and improve long-term competitiveness. JBS also announced plans to close a facility in Memphis, while shifting production to other sites in its network.
The closures come amid a persistent national cattle shortage that has squeezed processors across the industry. JBS shut down a similar facility near Los Angeles late last year for related reasons.
One of Montco’s Largest Employers
The Souderton plant, located at 249 Allentown Road, has been operated by JBS since 2008 and has long been one of the county’s most significant industrial employers.
As of the end of 2025, JBS ranked as the 24th largest employer in Montgomery County, behind only the county and federal governments, the area’s largest school districts and healthcare systems, and major employers like Merck, SEI and Wawa.
A Contract Set to Expire as the Plant Closes
Roughly 1,500 workers at the facility are represented by United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 1776. The closure comes less than a year after JBS workers were among 26,000 employees who secured a new union contract…