SMITHFIELD, Va., Aug. 29, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In an initial assessment of damages in the wake of Hurricane Irene, Smithfield Foods, Inc. (NYSE:SFD) announced today that employees will be returning back to work Monday at its meat processing facilities and farms in North Carolina and Virginia. The company's headquarters offices in Smithfield are also fully operational.
Elsewhere, the company reported minor structural damage to some barns belonging to contract farmers in North Carolina and Virginia, but thanks to onsite emergency generators, all animals are continuing to receive regular food and water. In addition, Smithfield said that all of its environmental pollution-control systems are still in good working order.
"I am happy and greatly relieved to report that all of our employees are safe," said C. Larry Pope, Smithfield's president and chief executive officer. He added, "I also want to thank our employees at our farms and plants for the outstanding job they did in minimizing damage from the hurricane. They followed our emergency preparedness plans and observed safety precautions, and it really paid off."
About Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods is a $12 billion global food company and the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Farmland®, Smithfield®, Eckrich®, Armour® and John Morrell®. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental, and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com.
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