Summer 2027
Operations Intern
Summer 2027
Empirical Foods
201-500 employees
Meat processing, lean ground beef producer
No salary listed
Garden City, KS, USA
In Person
Bachelor's
 Manufacturing & Production Operations |
|---|
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- Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in a related discipline.
- Experience with Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel, is preferred.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships.
- Ability to perform assigned tasks within determined time frames.
- Ability to handle multiple tasks and projects.
- Effective communication skills, including speaking clearly and effectively and writing legibly and effectively.
- Ability to interpret information accurately.
- Regular and punctual attendance.
- Ability to perform all essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Ability to work in a manufacturing setting.
- Complete assignments related to day-to-day operations and processes under the direction of qualified staff.
- Work with various departments to gain overall knowledge of company operations and processes and develop an understanding of food safety and quality.
- Participate in improvement activities related to products, equipment, and processes, including research, problem solving, testing, and addressing downtime issues.
- Participate in Quality Assurance activities and learn about the tests and inspections performed daily.
- Perform all other duties as assigned.
- Experience with Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel.
- Basic or entry-level experience in a manufacturing environment.
Empirical Foods processes beef to produce lean ground beef and other protein products for food service and retail. It uses an in-house proprietary process that warms beef trimmings, centrifuges fat, and treats the product to kill bacteria to yield about 95% lean ground beef. They also offer boxed beef and pork, portioned steaks and roasts, and fully cooked seasoned items under brands like Noble Valley, Two Rivers Meat Co, and Dos Rios Taco Meat. They differentiate themselves by owning the technology to turn by-products into high-value protein and serving large packers, ground beef producers, fast-food chains, and grocers, with capacity expansion including a new plant in Garden City, Kansas.
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Dakota Dunes, South Dakota
Founded
N/A
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See people who can refer or advise you
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Garden City opened April 8, 2026, adding more than 250 jobs and new volume.
- Record-high beef prices strengthen Empirical’s pitch for cheaper lean ground beef.
- Phase II at Garden City targets 80 million pounds annually if demand supports it.
What critics are saying
- USDA forecast tighter calf supplies in late 2026 squeeze Empirical’s input volumes.
- Ground beef remains haunted by pink slime stigma, threatening restaurant and retail demand.
- A major food-safety incident at Dakota Dunes or Garden City would devastate the brand.
What makes Empirical Foods unique
- Garden City’s 280,000-square-foot plant doubled lean ground beef capacity in 2026.
- Empirical’s proprietary centrifuge process extracts 95% lean beef from trimmings, not cattle expansion.
- Forty-five years of technology claim 21 extra pounds of beef per head.
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Benefits
Flexible Work Hours