Missouri-based manufacturer bringing jobs to Mexico – The Mexico Ledger

By Sky Strauss, Staff Writer

Mexico made it official last week, with a groundbreaking ushering in a new manufacturing facility as Western Smokehouse Partners joins the city’s ranks. Western Smokehouse will establish a new facility in Mexico, investing more than $67 million and creating 280 new jobs.

Area community leaders helped welcome the Western Smokehouse team, as did Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, among others.

Western Smokehouse Partners LLC, is a manufacturing company in Greentop. that got its start in the way a lot of midwest businesses do, between friends. 

In 1978, Sam Western and Jim Hankes founded Western’s Smokehouse and Thrushwood Farms separately. The pair met through the industry and developed a friendship but it wasn’t until their children, Kevin Western and Doug Hankes that the companies entered the meat snack industry.

After a long relationship, the facilities combined forces in 2019 and upped their snack game. Currently, Western Smokehouse Partners employs nearly 900 employees for their 500,000 square foot meat manufacturing operation.

Now, Western Smokehouse Partners, currently headed by CEO Matt Bormann, will be making its way to Mexico investing in the site formerly occupied by Soft Surroundings at 4655 Liberty St.

“We are thrilled to welcome Western Smokehouse Partners to our community,” says Mayor Vicki Briggs. “This investment not only highlights the potential of Mexico, but also brings significant job opportunities.”

The new 300,000 square foot site, will be the new hub for CHOMPS meat snack manufacturing. This past year was their most successful yet and their long standing partnership with Western Smokehouse Partners will allow them to keep up with rising demand. 

“It’s all about partnership. First, we have a great partner in CHOMPS, a customer who we will be building this plant in collaboration with,” says Bormann. “They are the leaders in the better-for-you meat stick industry and we’ve been with them since 2014.”

With that key partnership already in place, the next step was finding a state with reasonable regulations but most importantly, somewhere the company would continue to grow. Western Smokehouse Partners has been backed by the Governor’s Department of Economic Development.

“I love how the business was built on partnering with family-owned meat processors to invest in rural and small communities while also creating great, worthwhile jobs in the industry,” says Michelle Hataway, director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

That, along with the overwhelming community support and the skilled labor force currently in Mexico, were driving forces behind the decision to set up shop in town. 

“The overall partnership we really have to have is the community; that’s what is most important here.  We really appreciate how this community has rallied around us,” says Bormann. 

Renovations are expected to be completed by summer 2025 bringing around 280 new full-time jobs with the potential for future expansion. 

“We want to create good jobs in small towns. That has kind of been our mantra this entire time and we continue to build that out now as we’re approaching seven plants,” says Bormann. 

City officials are among the biggest cheerleaders of the welcome addition.

“We are thrilled to welcome Western Smokehouse Partners and CHOMPS to our community,” said Mexico Mayor Vicki Briggs. “The creation of 280 new jobs is not just an investment in our local economy, but a testament to the skilled workforce and strong business environment here in Mexico. This partnership will have a lasting positive impact on our community, and we look forward to seeing the growth and opportunities it will bring.”

That was echoed by Mexico City Manager Bruce Slagle.

 “Western Smokehouse Partners’ decision to expand in Mexico is a significant milestone for our city,” said Slagle. “This development underscores our commitment to fostering economic growth and providing quality jobs for our residents. We are excited about the opportunities this expansion will bring and look forward to supporting Western Smokehouse Partners and CHOMPS in their continued success.”

Western Smokehouse Partners plan to invest around $67 million towards building improvements and new state-of-the-art equipment according to Hataway. This plant will be their biggest yet and the company looks forward to growing into it with the city of Mexico at their side. It will be in the former Soft Surroundings building.