Cooper Farms acquires former JES Foods facility in Ohio for meat processing expansion
Facility will be converted into a value-added processing plant focused initially on meat products.
USA – Cooper Farms has purchased the former JES Foods manufacturing facility in Celina, Ohio, and plans to redevelop the site into a value-added food-processing operation as part of its ongoing growth strategy.
The company announced on 19 May 2026 that it had acquired the 28,000-square-foot property at 1800 Industrial Drive, located on approximately 8.85 acres, and said renovation work is already underway ahead of a planned production launch in spring 2027.
Once operational, the facility is expected to handle further processing activities, with initial production centred on meat products, although Cooper Farms indicated the site could support additional processing functions in the future.
The acquisition adds another location to the Northwest Ohio-based agribusiness, which has continued to invest in processing infrastructure as demand for value-added protein products grows across retail and foodservice channels.
Processing network expansion
The latest purchase follows other expansion efforts by Cooper Farms, including previously announced plans involving Greencore USA, and the company said the addition of the Celina plant would bring its total number of operating locations to 38.
Founded in 1938 by Virgil and Virginia Cooper, the family-owned business began as a turkey hatchery and has since developed into a vertically integrated agricultural company with operations spanning animal production, processing and food manufacturing.
Today, Cooper Farms raises turkeys, hogs, and egg-laying hens while producing a range of food products, including fresh and processed turkey, chicken, and pork items, as well as shell eggs and liquid egg products, supplied to retail and foodservice customers across North America.
The company primarily manufactures private-label products and works with a network of contract farmers while employing approximately 2,500 people across its operations.
Private ownership limits financial disclosure
Because Cooper Farms remains privately owned, it does not release detailed financial statements.
Industry estimates place annual revenue between US$300 million and US$400 million, while some external assessments have suggested figures approaching US$1.3 billion, depending on the scope of operations included.
The company has historically relied on a vertically integrated structure that combines livestock production, processing and distribution within a single business model, allowing it to manage costs across different stages of the supply chain.
According to information provided by the company, employees participate in monthly, annual and retirement-related profit-sharing programmes, while recent investments and acquisitions indicate continued spending on operational growth.
With construction and refurbishment work progressing at the Celina site, Cooper Farms expects the facility to begin contributing additional processing capacity when commercial production starts in 2027.
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