Gray Delivers World's First LEED-Certified Beef Harvest Facility for American Foods Group

WRIGHT CITY, Mo., Aug. 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Gray, a fully integrated design-builder, is proud to announce the completion of the world's first-ever LEED-certified beef harvest facility for America's Heartland Packaging, an American Foods Group (AFG) company.

This state-of-the-art 800,000 s.f. facility is designed to process up to 2,400 head of cattle per day. From early concept through design and construction, Gray partnered closely with AFG to bring this bold vision to life, aligning sustainability goals with the facility and market needs.

"This project exemplifies what's possible when visionary leadership meets fully integrated delivery," says Rebekah Gray, incoming President & CEO of Gray Construction. "We're proud to have helped set a new global standard for efficiency and sustainability in the beef processing industry."

Gray's scope for the project included facility design and construction intended to meet the LEED-certification standards. Gray's design team utilized building information modeling (BIM) to develop the structural and utility layout and communicate plans to the customer.

"A project of this scale and complexity simply isn't possible without a deeply collaborative relationship with the customer," says Brett Goode, Executive Vice President, Food & Beverage. "From day one, AFG was a true partner in every sense – engaged at every level and committed to creating a project that will be a standard bearer in this industry for decades to come."

This project supports more than 1,300 jobs and is expected to contribute more than $1 billion annually to the region's economy.

American Foods Group is a family-owned, U.S.-based beef processing company headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with operations across the Midwest. They are committed to long-term growth in the cattle business and to the partners it serves.

About Gray:

Gray is a fully integrated design-builder delivering end-to-end solutions in construction, professional services, specialty equipment, and real estate. Since 1960, we have grown from a regional contractor to a nationally ranked leader, serving top companies in our core markets. Our comprehensive services — spanning design, engineering, construction, automation, equipment, and real estate — make us a trusted partner for every phase of a project. Whether designing and building a state-of-the-art facility, fabricating custom process equipment, or implementing advanced automation, our expertise drives innovation and value at every step.

For more information on Gray, visit gray.com and follow Gray on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

Media Contact:
Abby Johnson
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gray.com

SOURCE Gray Construction