Skip to navigationSkip to main contentSkip to right columnADVERTISEMENTAparajita ChatterjeeWed, June 17, 2026 at 4:33 AM GMT+2 6 min readJBS is one of the biggest names behind the meat sold in grocery stores, restaurants, and food-service channels across the U.S.The company describes itself as a leading global food company serving customers in about 100 countries across six continents.Its portfolio includes beef, poultry, pork, and lamb, as well as prepared foods and consumer-facing brands such as Pilgrim’s, Just Bare, Swift, and 1855 Beef.With such an expansive presence in the country, the meat giant is making a major change to its U.S. production network.JBS USA said it plans to close two facilities, one in Pennsylvania and two in Tennessee, as part of a broader effort to strengthen operations and make its business more efficient.The move will result in major job cuts, including nearly 1,500 workers at a single Pennsylvania facility.The closures come at a difficult moment for the meat business as Beef prices are still climbing, and cattle supplies remain tight.Amidst this market, food companies are trying to decide which plants are best positioned for the next stage of demand.JBS USA on June 12 announced the planned closure of its beef production facility in Souderton, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia, and a value-added facility in Memphis, Tennessee.Additionally, JBS-owned Pilgrim's Pride is closing its Chattanooga, TN, facility, effective September 25, 2026.The company said the closures are part of targeted network changes aimed at strengthening operations going forward.The Pennsylvania job impact is large.A Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice filed with the Pennsylvania Department lists JBS Souderton at 249 Allentown Road and 741 Souder Road, both in Souderton, Montgomery County, to be closed.The notice says the closure will affect 1,485 workers, effective Aug. 14, 2026.More Layoffs:Breakfast giant cuts more workers after plant shutdownDelivery giant closes facility, cuts 100s of workersUber cuts jobs while chasing major new marketsRegarding the value-added facility in Memphis, Tennessee, which is also set to close, JBS did not provide the exact number of affected employees in its announcement.However, according to Food Dive, the Memphis facility employs about 208 people who could lose their jobs at the time of closure.The company is set to offer impacted employees opportunities to apply for open roles at other facilities. It also promised on-site support to assist workers through the transition.“These decisions are never easy because they directly affect our team members and the communities where we operate,” JBS USA CEO Wesley Batista Filho said in the company’s announcement.Terms and Privacy PolicyPrivacy & Cookie SettingsMore Info