National Steak and Poultry to add jobs

OWASSO -- An Owasso company that cuts, processes and packs marinated chicken, pork and beef for a growing client base is breaking ground Friday on an expansion project that will double its production capacity.

Privately held National Steak and Poultry Inc. will invest more than $4 million to add 17,500 square feet of production and office space to its plant at 301 E. Fifth St.

After a Friday morning ground-breaking, "We're ready to go," said David Albright, chief executive of the 24-year-old company.

Construction is expected to be completed by early fall.

The new building, costing just over $2 million, will provide an additional 15,000 square feet of space to an NSP production area where specially seasoned meat is cooked and packaged, Albright said.

With room for a third production line, NSP will increase its output by 10 million pounds a year. It will also add 40 to 50 jobs to the staff of about 350.

"We're excited about bringing more people on board," Albright said.

The company processes and packages its specially marinated meat products for national, regional and local restaurant chains and retail outlets, including the grocery store sector.

Some well-known customers are Applebee's International Inc., Tulsa-based Camille's Sidewalk Cafe, Don Pablo's Mexican Kitchen, Taco Bueno Restaurants, Ihop Corp. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

NSP's steady growth during the past few years came partially from diversification into new industries, Albright said, particularly retail grocery stores such as Wal-Mart and contracts with branches of the military.

Selling steaks for soldiers stationed oversees, which began last year, netted NSP $3 million in sales in 2003.

An explosion of quick-casual restaurants across the country as well as an increasing demand for prepared foods from time-crunched consumers also has boosted business.

Albright said establishing more relationships with growing restaurant chains has raised demand for NSP products.

"We've been lucky," he said. "Applebee's has been on a run, and they've been good for us."

National trends are playing out locally, he said. Numerous restaurants have been opening in Tulsa and surrounding communities, and grocery retailers are selling more foods that can be quickly and easily prepared.

NSP's growth is a rare employment bright spot in the Tulsa area, where thousands have lost their jobs during the past two years. And it may be only the beginning, according to Albright.

"The good news is there's more potential to expand," he said.

When this year's phase of expansion is complete, NSP will turn its attention to beefing up the employee count and output in other areas.

"Within the next four years, we'll be adding more people to expand meat processing and steak cutting," he said. "This is the first step in a four-year deal."

Financing for the building portion of the project was funded by RCB Bank, Albright said. Negotiations with another bank to fund an equipment package costing more than $2 million should be finalized within two weeks.

Albright credited Owasso's city officials for rallying behind the project.

"The city has been a big help with the expansion," he said. "We couldn't have asked for a better city for support."

Debbie Blossom 581-8387
debbie.blossom@tulsaworld.com