New products mean more jobs for Carthage poultry plant - KOAM TV 7

Butterball in Carthage, Missouri is in the process of hiring additional employees because of additional products.

"We've started a new turkey line so - it's Butterball turkey burgers - so you can find them in Walmart and Sam's here locally and we're also doing restaurant burgers and food service burgers, that we'll be selling," says John Lenahan, complex manager for Butterball.

The turkey burgers, restaurant burgers, raw roasts and eventually ground turkey tray packs are new additions that are creating about 90 more jobs for the local company.

"Sales have gone so well that in June of this year we went to a second shift, so the two shifts of burgers has created about 40 positions," says Lenahan.

The factory has been manufacturing food products since the early 1950's, increasing size and product over time.

"For the last three years they've had a consistent growth of income and work force personnel, which has been good," says Mark Elliff, President and Economic Development Director for the Carthage Chamber of Commerce.  "They're a big supporter of the community.  They're presently employing about 660 people of the workforce in Carthage."

Elliff says the creation of jobs will allow more money to be spent in the community.

"Carthage, of course like many cities, depends on the sales tax revenue, with new jobs coming in it allows the people to spend for their goods and services in the community which in turn comes back and helps the community," says Elliff.

In October, Butterball expects to hire an additional 30 employees.