SMITHFIELD, VA. — Smithfield Foods announced the completion of its acquisition of a premier dry sausage production facility in Nashville from Cargill. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The transaction is part of Smithfield’s strategy for increased growth in the value-added packaged meats segment. With the newly acquired facility, Smithfield will expand its dry sausage production capacity by 50 million lbs per year.

The Nashville plant will support the company’s existing portfolio of dry sausage brands that includes Margherita, Carando and Armour.

“With the added capacity from this facility, Smithfield is poised to continue to expand our packaged meats business in the rapidly growing dry sausage category,” said Steve France, president of packaged meats for Smithfield Foods. “We are pleased to welcome the employees at Nashville to the Smithfield team and look forward to continuing to serve the facility’s existing customers.”

Smithfield said it has made formal offers of employment to all employees at the Nashville plant for the same position they previously held. The benefits package features comprehensive medical coverage and a free tuition program, among other things.

Smithfield currently employs over 54,000 people across seven countries.