Representing 19,000+ jobs and an economic output of $2.36B, Food & Beverage Processing is a booming industry in Hampton Roads. Chances are you have consumed a product that has been produced in our region, whether that be a steaming cup of coffee, a juicy ham, or freshly caught seafood. We produce delicious foods and beverages that millions of people enjoy on a daily basis. Local companies benefit from our major competitive advantages, such as state-of-the-art infrastructure, strategic mid-Atlantic location and a skilled workforce.
Smithfield Foods is a U.S. based global food company and the world’s largest pork processor
1,500+ annual graduates in production related programs
1 in 8 Manufaturing Jobs in Hampton Roads are in Food & Beverage Processing
Hampton Roads is serviced by CSX and Norfolk Southern, providing easy access along the east coast and into the midwest, including a speedy 47 hour rail transit time to Chicago. Fully integrated with the Port of Virginia, these two rail lines have a cumulative 7 miles of track directly on-dock, which reach a grand total of 16 midwest and southeast inland points.
47% of the US population is within a one-day drive of the region. Major roadways that run through Hampton Roads include 64 and 1-95.
There is 3 million square feet of freezer and cooler space within a 20 minute drive of the Port of Virginia’s terminals.
A labor pool of approximately 7,200 work in the Food & Beverage Processing Industry in Hampton Roads. Fueling this workforce is the 1,500+ annual graduates in production related programs including precision production, engineering, and transportation and material moving.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, EMSI Q2 2020 Dataset
People across the United States are nuts for Hampton Roads’ peanuts. Given the area’s excellent farming conditions, the region has been growing peanuts for over 100 years. Suffolk, VA even held the title of “Peanut Capital of the World” for some time in the 20th century. Notable peanut product manufacturers are Kraft Heinz Foods/Planters, Birdsong Peanuts, and Hampton Farms.
With access to both the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, Hampton Roads provides an ideal location for the seafood industry. Our waterways are rich with delicious blue crab, oysters, rockfish, and red drum, to name a few. Prominent local seafood processors include Wanchese Fish Company and High Liner Foods/Icelandic USA.
Supported by abundant farmland and centuries old tradition, Hampton Roads produces some of America’s finest country ham. Known throughout the world for its salty, savory taste, this unique flavor comes from a particular curing process and a peanut-heavy diet for the hogs. Developed locally, the country ham processed in our region is so specialized that it has its own name, Smithfield Ham. The product has been so successful that Smithfield Foods, the local company behind this product has grown into a $15 billion global food company becoming the world’s largest pork processor and hog producer.
A national olive oil industry leader in Spain, ACESUR, announced in January 2020 that it will invest $11 million to establish its first U.S. production facility in the Suffolk, VA. The company has been producing, packaging, and marketing olive oil since 1840. They export their products to more than 90 countries in the world. The company purchased a two-story Class A manufacturing facility for $5.025 million. The company also plans to invest another $6 million in renovations and equipment. ACESUR will create 60 new jobs across all Hampton Roads industries and have an overall economic impact of $20 million.
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