“I want to thank each and every one that makes up this amazing company called Iowa Premium LLC and for your hard work and dedication in making Iowa Premium LLC a premium provider of high quality family farm raised Black Angus beef products to our customers. I am so proud of everyone’s accomplishments and want to thank you for allowing me to lead such an amazing group of gifted folks that made this all happen,” was part of the message from Jefffrey Johnson, Iowa Premium president and CEO said in a statement issued Tuesday.

His words came following an announcement Monday on the National Beef Packing Co. LLC website saying it had purchased Iowa Premium with the deal expected to close in the second quarter of this year.

Iowa Premium reopened the Tama beef plant, known locally for many years as “Tama Pack” in 2014 after reportedly upwards of $50 million was spent by Sysco Foods to modernize and enlarge the facility. The plant employs more than 850.

As Johnson noted in his message, Iowa Premium is a major buyer of cattle in Iowa and surrounding states.

The Tama plant has a long history here, opening first in 1971 and operating under a number of owners over the years. It was closed at the end of 1999 by owner IBP?Inc. and the property was donated to the City of Tama.

Jeffrey J. Johnson

The plant then reopened under two operators in the early 2000s, only to close again in 2004 with the plant then sitting idle for some 10 years.

Here is the full announcement made by National Beef Packing Company:

Kansas City, Mo., March 11, 2019 National Beef Packing Company, LLC (National Beef), announced Monday it has approved a transaction that will result in it owning 100 P of the ownership interests in Iowa Premium, LLC, (IP). The transaction is subject to customary conditions, including the expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2019.

Iowa Premium, located in Tama, Iowa, employs over 800 people and processes approximately 1,100 head of Black Angus fed cattle per day. The company is well known for marketing high quality beef products worldwide under several proprietary brands including Iowa Premium Angus and Est. 8 Angus.

“I am excited to expand our beef operations with a processing facility in Iowa and we look forward to strengthening IP’s relationships with the family farmers who produce the highest quality Black Angus cattle in the U.S.”, said Tim Klein, President and CEO, National Beef, in making the announcement. “Iowa Premium fits perfectly with our value-based marketing strategy as we continue to provide our customers with the very best beef products and programs.”

Iowa Premium at Tama. News-Herald file photo

About Iowa Premium:

Iowa Premium LLC, located in Tama, Iowa, processes corn-fed Black Angus beef raised on family farms in Iowa and its neighboring Upper Midwestern states. The company specializes in USDA Choice and Prime grade beef and offers a full line of boxed beef products for domestic and international markets.

About National Beef:

National Beef Packing Company, LLC, based in Kansas City, Missouri, has operations in Liberal, Dodge City, and Kansas City, Kansas; Hummels Wharf, Pennsylvania; Moultrie, Georgia; North Baltimore, Ohio and St. Joseph, Missouri. National Beef, with approximately 8,400 employees, processes and markets fresh beef, beef by-products and consumerready products for domestic and international markets. In fiscal year 2018, National Beef generated sales of $7.5 billion. More information about National Beef is available at www.nationalbeef.com.