Vikon Farms, a poultry processing company based in California, announced this week that it will locate a new slaughter processing facility in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. The company said it will invest $5.4 million in the existing facility, which was formerly a Petit Jean Poultry deboning plant that closed in April 2011. The facility will employ more than 172 people within four years, according to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. The company said it will contract with a number of growers from El Dorado and Union County along with a Vikon-supported hatchery in Prescott.
Vikon Farms produces a specialty breed of chicken that serves a number of Asian markets. The company says it raises chickens that are grown free range with an “all-grain diet with no hormones or antibiotics added” and is categorized by USDA as “Buddhist-style” poultry, which is processed with head and feet attached.
“We are excited to be here,” said Quan Phu, president and CEO of Vikon Farms. “We appreciate the extensive amount of support from the Arkadelphia Economic Development Alliance and Arkansas Economic Development Commission.
