Beef harvesting facility shuttering due to drought
Van Darden
SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio-based packing facility that handles beef harvesting is closing, resulting in the loss of 325 jobs, the company announced Tuesday.
L&H Packing Company will close the facility effective Friday, Aug. 15. Company officials blame the closure on Texas' "exceptional drought," which has lead to a decrease in cattle supply.
"It was only after careful consideration and months of prayerful thought that my executive committee and I recommend this action to our Board of Directors," said Neal Leonard, CEO of parent company Leonard Holding Company, in a statement released Tuesday afternoon. "The decision was made to re-allocate our resources to our sister companies, Surlean Foods and New Earth, who are currently experiencing record growth. With U.S. Cattle inventory at its lowest since 1951, this difficult decision was made."
L&H employees affected will be receiving company assistance which includes preference for interviews when applying for positions at LHC owned businesses.
The South San Antonio company was founded in 1966.