Fast-growing Chomps is set to build its second dedicated plant to manufacture meat sticks as it aims to meet consumer demand for the convenient, protein-packed snacks.
Chomps said the planned 160,000-square-foot facility in Beatrice, Nebraska, is capable of making up to 150 million meat sticks a year and will increase Chomps' annual production capacity by 15%.
Chomps said earlier this year that demand for its meat sticks has been so strong that, despite producing 2 million a day, it can only fulfill 85% of its orders. Now, it’s fulfilling closer to 95% of its orders. The shortfall prompted Chomps to turn down requests from new retailers and hold off on developing its innovation pipeline as a result.
"The explosive growth we’ve experienced makes increasing our capacity not just a goal, but an essential step to meet the continuous, high demand for Chomps," Rashid Ali, Chomps co-founder and CEO, said in a statement. "This facility is a major strategic move that will allow us to scale with intention, supporting both sustained momentum and future innovation.”
The site is scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2027 and will create about 150 jobs. Chomps is collaborating with Landmark Snacks, a co-manufacturing partner, on the plant.
Chomps said it is the fastest-growing company in the meat sticks space, posting 161% year-over-year sales growth and outpacing the category’s already robust 16.1% increase. The company is on track to generate close to $1 billion in sales this year compared to just $50 million in 2019.
In an email to Food Dive, Jason Dols, Chomps’ senior vice president of operations, said the new plant has benefits beyond just increasing volume.
The company can also accelerate innovation, expand into new channels and better support retail partners and direct-to-consumer shoppers by improving service levels and in-stock rates. In addition, he said Chomps can invest in a “large-scale national campaigns that match our momentum and drive deeper consumer trial and loyalty.”
The Nebraska facility is the second dedicated meat sticks location for Chomps. Earlier this year, it opened a 300,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Missouri. It also works with other co-manufacturers to produce its products.
Meat stick sales have soared as the sector responds to consumer demand for protein and convenience.
Sales of dried meat snacks, excluding jerky, rose 10.7% to $3.3 billion in 2024 from the prior year, according to data provided by Circana. Since 2020, the category has added nearly $1.2 billion in sales.
The rapid growth has prompted other manufacturers to also add new capacity. Jack Link’s also opened a $450 million processing plant in June and Archer this month opened a second plant in Los Angeles that will nearly double its manufacturing capacity.
