Living the American dream: Jack Link’s $450M expansion is ‘a natural fit’ for Perry

In 1985, Jack Link founded a snacking company based on his grandfather’s Old World recipes from Germany.

Over the years, his namesake family owned and operated jerky business has grown to become a global leader in meat snacks with multiple sites in the Midwest and in Germany, New Zealand and Brazil.

Today, Jack Link’s is building their largest manufacturing facility on 120 acres at 720 Perry Parkway in Perry, a $450 million investment that’s expected to generate 800 jobs.

“It’s really been phenomenal,” Troy Link, chief executive officer for Link Snacks Inc., said at the recent announcement and groundbreaking. “We’ve lived the American dream.

“We have absolutely flourished under the free enterprise system in this great nation, and really, the investments we’re making here today, really keep the dream alive for future generations … not only for my little kids but for many of our team members’ little kids.”

Headquartered in Minong, Wisconsin, the company expects to immediately hire five “critical, key positions” that will be locally based for the Perry plant, said Kevin McAdams, who oversees the company’s North American region.

Those positions include plant manager, human resources manager, food safety quality director, plant controller and plant engineer.

Other career opportunities are expected to include positions in management production and management supervision, quality, maintenance, engineering and general office support, according to a news release from the governor’s office. For available positions and benefits, visit jacklinks.com/careers.

‘Project Bird Cage’

Local and state officials have been working to lure the snack giant to Perry for months, an undertaking dubbed “Project Bird Cage.”

“The Georgia facility is going to ensure that we continue to lead the protein snacking category with great innovation and continue to grow with our customers, consumers and team members,” Link said.

“So, this is a huge investment for us. It’s our largest new plant we’ve ever built, and we’re really looking forward to it.”

McAdams, who’s been leading the project for the company, made his first visit to Perry last summer.

‘After looking at 30-plus sites around the U.S., we’re excited to be building here,” McAdams said. “We really liked the community.

“We like the business part of it. We liked the workforce, but we love the culture and boy, did we feel that as we’ve come here many times over the last few months.”

The company is not only expanding in Perry. They’re also doubling the size of their main jerky factory in South Dakota as well as doubling the size of their main distribution center in Iowa.

Pat Wilson, Georgia’s commissioner of economic development, noted that the food processing industry continues to grow in the state.

“We have a fantastic food processing industry that is thriving,” Wilson said. “Agriculture continues to be the backbone of the Georgia economy. But food processing last year grew by 233%, which is amazing year-over-year.

“This shows that Georgia has some amazing assets that we continue to offer companies: educated skilled workforce, a fantastic pro-business environment, low cost of doing business, connectivity through all our infrastructure: ports, airport, logistics, railroad. We’ve got it all, and that is exactly what Jack Link’s is to take advantage of going forward.”

In his announcement about Jack Link’s, Gov. Brian Kemp noted it’s the largest rural economic development project that has been announced so far this year.

Kemp also lauded Georgia’s Quick Start System as helping to attract the company. The nationally recognized training program provides customized workforce training without cost to qualified businesses in the state.

“One of our strong suits in Georgia is that quality of workforce and the training support that they get is one of the many reasons that Georgia continues to be the destination state for business and it’s one of the reasons that Jack Link’s tells us that drew them to this community,” Kemp said.

‘A natural fit’

Best known for their beef jerky and “Messin’ with Sasquatch” ads, the company chose the Perry site from among more than 30 other locations.

“This will be a strong partnership with all of you and the collaboration is really what got us here today and what we’ll continue to build on,” Link said.

In addition to Jack Link’s, other Link Snacks brands include Lorissa’s Kitchen, Jack Link’s Cold Crafted, Wild River, Golden Island, MATADOR, BiFi and Peperami, according to the company’s website.

The Perry plant, which Link said will be a clean green facility with the latest technology, is expected to be fully operational at the end of 2023.

Link noted that the company has been built on a foundation of team member safety, high quality products and sustainable manufacturing techniques.

“This is a natural fit,” said Sonny Perdue, chancellor of the University System of Georgia who was born in Perry and raised on a farm in Bonaire. “Knowing this company, knowing these folks, this is an amazing family business that exemplifies the American dream ...

“It just fits like a hand in glove with this community, and you’re going to be family here. You’re going to wish you came to Houston County, Georgia, a long time ago.”

Perry Mayor Randall Walker was also among a host of speakers to welcome the company and its representatives, including founder Jack Link.

“This is going to be an incredible partnership between Jack Link’s and this local community,” Walker said. “We share many of the same values that make you successful in your worldwide operations.

“Jack Link outlined these values best when he said keep it clean, treat everybody like family and do what’s right. These values are reflective of the values in Perry and Houston County where much of our focus is on the quality of life for our citizens.”