New Meat Processing Plant In Celina Preparing For Grand Opening

The Upper Cumberland will soon have a new way to purchase beef products.

Celina’s D & D Meats Incorporated will have its first harvest next week. President John Donaldson said the goal is to open to customers this June or July.

“Our goals here is to elevate the industry and to allow consumers the opportunity and producers a like to market and purchase locally produced product,” Donaldson said.

Donaldson said work on the the 7,200 square foot facility began two-years ago. Donaldson said once the Petermen Bend Road site is fully operational, 15 to 20 jobs will be created.

“We did all the accusations for this plant in 2020,” Donaldson said. “Another thing about our plant versus all the others is every piece of our facility except for our cooler doors and equipment was purchased within a 75-mile radius of Celina.”

Donaldson said the facility will only use cattle from contracted farmers within a 100-mile radius as well as fed cattle on site. Donaldson said the plant is a USDA process verified facility with dry-aged products.

“We actually have akaushi cattle on feed, which is a sister breed to wagyu,” Donaldson said. “Our own product will be a premium product.”

Donaldson said eventually, products will also be available in stores locally. Donaldson said a website will also be created to share more information to customers.

“I’ve been in the cattle industry all my life,” Donaldson said. “I have fed cattle all over the west and own cattle. This has been a vision of mine for over 20 years. Our cattle will never be loaded. They will actually walk to our facility.”