Archer Snack Company Moving Into Former Farmer John Plant

A former Farmer John meat processing plant in Vernon will continue its Dodger legacy with a new tenant to crank out jerky.

Archer, the Los Angeles-based snack maker behind the Dodgers’ official jerky products, has occupied the 350,500-square-foot manufacturing building at 3049, 3095 and 3163 East Vernon Avenue after outgrowing its original plant in San Bernardino, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Terms of what appears to be a lease from owner Goodman Group were not disclosed.

The new Archer facility comes two years after Farmer John, the longtime hot dog partner of the Dodgers, abandoned the building after more than 90 years. Smithfield Foods, parent of Farmer John, sold the factory to cut costs, moving most of its West Coast business elsewhere.

The buyer was Australia-based Goodman, which in July 2023 paid $206 million for the meat processing plant and warehouses across 29 acres, Commercial Observer reported.

Archer plans to pour $30 million into renovating the former Dodger dog factory to ramp up production of its grass-fed beef snacks, with an opening planned for September for its more than 200 workers.

“The explosive growth of our meat stick products made increasing our production capabilities essential, and doing this in Los Angeles was an intentional choice,” Eugene Kang, founder and CEO of Archer, said in a statement.

As more fans flock to Dodger Stadium to see the World Series champs, Archer will have to meet the growing demand as the team’s official meat snack partner.

MLB announced the multiyear partnership last month with plans to sell the jerky and meat sticks at concession stands throughout the 56,000-seat stadium in Elysian Park.

Meanwhile, another Vernon-based business, Papa Cantella’s, remains the official Dodger Dog meat supplier after Farmer Dog and the Dodgers parted ways in 2021 after more than 50 years.

— Chris Malone Méndez