JBS USA to shut Riverside case-ready meat facility, cut 374 jobs
Production to be shifted within JBS network as company expands elsewhere
USA – JBS USA plans to close its case-ready meat processing facility in Riverside, California, a move that will result in hundreds of job losses as the company reorganises parts of its domestic production network.
According to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filed with California authorities in early December, the shutdown will affect 374 employees, with job losses scheduled to take effect on 2 February 2026, while the filing links the operation to JBS’s Swift business unit.
The company confirmed the decision through a spokesperson, who said the closure forms part of an internal effort to streamline operations within its value-added and case-ready segment while reducing complexity across its broader manufacturing footprint.
As part of that process, JBS said output currently handled at the Riverside site is being reassigned to other facilities within its US system, a transition that the company indicated has already begun to avoid disruptions to customers.
The spokesperson added that supply commitments would continue to be met during and after the transfer of production, with JBS maintaining that service levels for existing clients would remain unchanged throughout the shift.
With regard to the workforce, JBS said it would provide affected employees with options to move to other company locations, including assistance for those willing to relocate, as well as a 60-day notice period for staff who are unable or unwilling to make the move.
In addition, the company said financial incentives would be offered to employees who stay through the end of the production transfer, framing the measures as part of its approach to managing the closure process.
Investment elsewhere
The Riverside shutdown comes as JBS continues to invest in new US production capacity, including a sausage manufacturing facility currently under construction in Perry, Iowa.
The Iowa project, which broke ground in October, involves an investment of US$135 million and is expected to create about 500 direct jobs once fully operational, according to earlier statements from the company.
JBS has previously said it expects the Perry facility to begin production in late 2026, positioning it as a future hub for processed meat output within the group’s US operations.
Separately, JBS-controlled poultry producer Pilgrim’s Pride is developing a prepared foods plant in Walker County, Georgia, aimed at producing fully cooked chicken products for the US market.
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