ANKENY, Iowa — JBS USA announced on Wednesday that it’s reached an agreement to purchase a production facility in Ankeny that is expected to create roughly 400 jobs.

According to JBS, the existing 186,000 square-foot facility was formerly a food production facility for Hy-Vee, which closed back in May. JBS said the plant will produce ready-to-eat bacon and ready-to-eat sausage.

“Today’s announcement aligns with our long-term strategy of offering more value-added and prepared foods products to meet the needs of our customers and consumers,” Wesley Batista Filho, JBS USA Chief Executive Officer, said in a statement. “We are proud to grow our operations in Iowa, where we already operate four production facilities, with another expected to break ground later this year.”

JBS said the Ankeny plant is expected to be up and running by mid-2026.

JBS announced in May its plan to build a “state-of-the-art” fresh sausage production facility in Perry that would bring approximately 500 jobs. Construction on the Perry plant is expected to break ground in late 2025. The company also operates facilities in Council Bluffs, Marshalltown, and Ottumwa.