Smithfield Foods Celebrates First Anniversary of Free Tuition for U.S. Employees

Smithfield, Va., April 8, 2024 — Smithfield Foods is celebrating the first anniversary of providing free tuition for its full- and part-time U.S. employees.

After one year, more than 85 graduates have completed a high-quality degree or certificate program, and more than 950 employees are currently enrolled and nearing graduation.

“We provide our employees with career growth opportunities that empower them to reach their full potential,” said Jay Bennett, chief human resources officer of Smithfield Foods. “This milestone anniversary underscores our commitment to investing in employees through value-added experiences that help build a fulfilling, long-lasting career at Smithfield. We congratulate our recent graduates on their accomplishments and look forward to seeing even more employees take the next steps in their careers.”

Smithfield, in partnership with Guild, offers eligible employees access to learning and career growth with more than 200 degree and certificate programs that align with Smithfield’s career pathway opportunities. All programs are offered through vetted universities and education providers designed especially for working adults.

Under Smithfield’s 100% tuition covered program, U.S. employees have access to one-on-one personalized education support and career coaching as well as coverage for required textbooks and course fees.

For more information on Smithfield's Guild program, visit smithfield.guildeducation.com.

About Smithfield Foods, Inc.
Headquartered in Smithfield, Virginia, since 1936, Smithfield Foods, Inc. is a U.S. food company that employs more than 54,000 people in seven countries and partners with thousands of American farmers. As one of the world's leading vertically integrated protein companies, we are dedicated to producing “Good food. Responsibly.^®” to feed a growing world population. We have pioneered sustainability standards for more than two decades, including our industry-leading commitments to become carbon negative in our U.S. company-owned operations and reduce GHG emissions 30% across our entire U.S. value chain by 2030. We believe in the power of protein to end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food servings to food banks, disaster relief efforts and community outreach programs in all 50 U.S. states. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield^®, Eckrich^®, Gwaltney^® and Nathan’s Famous^®, among many others. For more information, visit  www.smithfieldfoods.com and connect with us on Facebook, X, formerly known as Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Threads.

About Guild
Guild unlocks the talent and economic potential of America's workforce for employees and their companies. Guild partners with the nation's largest employers—including Walmart, Chipotle, Discover, Hilton, Macy's, Target, and The Walt Disney Company—to create cultures of opportunity that help them attract and retain top talent, while building the workforce of the future from within. By using Guild's proprietary Career Opportunity Platform to connect workers to a marketplace of education and learning programs that work in the real-world, employees at those companies can gain the skills, knowledge, and guidance they need to build a brighter future for themselves and their families—all without paying for tuition or career services on their own. For more information, visit www.guildeducation.com.