Western Smokehouse Partners proposes US$50M expansion in Galesburg, Illinois

USA – Western Smokehouse Partners is planning a major expansion of its meat snack production, with a proposed US$50 million investment to redevelop part of a former Maytag factory in Galesburg, Illinois. 

The company, through its subsidiary Thrushwood Farms Quality Meats, aims to transform the unused portion of the facility into a manufacturing space, as reported by local media.

The project, which still requires approval from the Galesburg city council, is expected to create between 150 and 180 jobs in the area. 

The city is reportedly prepared to contribute US$1 million to assist in the expansion efforts.

Thrushwood Farms, established in Galesburg in 1978, has seen steady growth over the years, particularly after its acquisition by Western Smokehouse Partners in 2020. 

Western Smokehouse Partners has made Galesburg its headquarters, securing a 10-year lease for the facility in May 2024.

The latest development includes a new 10-year lease for 179,000 square feet of the former Maytag facility, which has remained unused since the appliance manufacturer vacated the space in September 2004. 

If the expansion is approved and moves forward, Western Smokehouse Partners’ workforce in Galesburg will exceed 350 employees.

Currently, the company operates more than 500,000 square feet of manufacturing space across five different plants. 

This latest proposed expansion follows several recent moves by Western Smokehouse Partners, including its acquisition of meat snack company Golden Valley Natural, based in Shelley, Idaho, earlier this year.

Western Smokehouse Partners has been actively expanding its production capacity in recent years. 

The company purchased a 45,000-square-foot facility in Springfield, Illinois, in 2021, and in mid-2022, it increased production capacity by 30% at its plant in Greentop, Missouri.

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