Archer opens a second meat-snack plant in Vernon

Archer has opened a meat-stick manufacturing plant in Vernon, California, adding a second factory to its production network in the United States. The 140,000-square-foot facility is designed to double the snack company’s overall manufacturing capacity.

The plant can produce more than 36 million pounds of meat sticks annually, equivalent to over one billion Archer Mini Sticks. Archer expects the facility to add more than 200 jobs, alongside 150 employees at its existing San Bernardino operation.

Founder and CEO Eugene Kang described investment in the company’s own infrastructure as preparation for longer-term growth. At the October opening, Archer expected sales to exceed $500 million by the end of 2026. That is a company forecast; the annual production figures describe capacity.

Converting surviving factory buildings

Archer’s renovation occupies two buildings at 3855 S. Soto Street on part of the former Farmer John complex. They stand across the street from the mural-covered processing plant that was demolished in January 2024. The buildings Archer is using survived that demolition.

Smithfield Foods closed the Farmer John complex in February 2023 and sold it to industrial property company Goodman Group that summer. Archer subsequently selected a portion of the site for meat-stick production, with the conversion announced in May 2025.

Different roles for the two plants

Archer planned to dedicate Vernon to meat sticks, while San Bernardino would continue making both jerky and sticks. In the May expansion plan, the company anticipated full operation in early September. The later opening announcement followed in October.

Archer wordmark.

The expansion accompanied three additions to the beef-stick range announced in late April: Pepperoni Style, Beef Taco and Prime Rib Style. Archer’s sales goal for 2025 was $300 million when it announced the new products.

A new name and a broader retail range

Country Archer Provisions shortened its name to Archer on Feb 25, 2025. The company introduced a new wordmark and packaging after two years of category and consumer research. Its announced distribution then covered more than 30,000 retailers, with over thirty product variants.

The range included several formats:

Grass-fed beef jerky and turkey jerky.
Zero-sugar jerky.
Meat sticks in one-ounce and mini sizes.
Smoked sausages.

In February, Archer scheduled the packaging rollout to begin in July, with nationwide availability planned for September 2025. It also scheduled a first national advertising campaign for the third quarter. Those were the company’s stated rollout plans.