Cargill buys South Carolina ground beef plant

Cargill has purchased the FPL Food ground beef processing plant in Columbia, S.C.

Cargill said in a statement that the acquisition enhances its ability to serve Eastern retail and food service customers. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, and the transaction is expected to close around the end of March.

The 100,000-square-foot plant employs more than 200 people.

Cargill's North American beef business, headquartered in Wichita, is one of the largest producers of ground beef in the world, with numerous processing plants in the U.S. and Canada., including in Dodge City.

Beef suppliers are poised for a big upswing in sales after a number of difficult years as beef supplies grow and prices fall.

"Rebuilding the U.S. beef cattle herd from the severe multi-year drought suffered in Texas and the southern plains is well underway, which will result in an increased beef supply later this year and beyond,” John Keating, president of Cargill Beef, said in a statement. “The increased supply should benefit our customers and consumers over the next few years.”

This story was originally published March 4, 2016 at 11:18 AM with the headline "Cargill buys South Carolina ground beef plant."