Darling Ingredients Inc. (NYSE: DAR) has announced its intent to partner with Butterball, LLC in considering the construction of a new poultry rendering facility. According to a letter of intent, the proposed plant would be located adjacent to Butterball’s Mt. Olive facility in North Carolina.
The potential new facility is projected to be capable of processing approximately 18 million pounds of material each week through three processing lines. Assuming all necessary permits are obtained and definitive agreements are signed, construction could commence in early 2024 and conclude by 2025.
“Darling Ingredients is committed to supporting its customers and agricultural growth in North Carolina,” remarked Randall C. Stuewe, Darling Ingredients Chairman and CEO. “A new Mt. Olive rendering facility bolsters rendering reliability, increases capacity, and provides a vital service that transforms this material into invaluable ingredients and feedstock for renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel.”
Jay Jandrain, President and CEO of Butterball, LLC, expressed excitement about the possible environmental and safety benefits of an expanded operational footprint at Mt. Olive. “Butterball has been a proud, long-time member of the Mt. Olive community, providing positive economic impacts, including jobs, for many in the area,” he added.
The proposed project is considered a boon for North Carolina’s agricultural sector, as per Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. He expressed optimism for the plan, saying, “As we continue to grow, so does the need for facilities like this one. Increasing our rendering capacity in the state provides us the ability to turn an otherwise unusable animal material into a useable product. This is an essential service for our agriculture community and greatly needed capacity to help meet demand. I wish Butterball and Darling Ingredients success in this endeavor.”
Photo by Artem Beliaikin on Unsplash
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