Construction is underway on a new, 14,000-square-foot Research & Development Center and Meat Processing Kitchen at our headquarters in Pekin, Illinois.

Members of the Hall Family – Vance, Jay, and Dianne – led the groundbreaking surrounded by employees on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. Excalibur President Mike Shrier says the new facility marks a significant investment in the company’s future.

“This groundbreaking is the culmination of a long journey and a clear vision of where we are headed,” said Shrier. “The R&D Center will fundamentally change how we serve our customers, strengthen our partnerships, and further cement the company’s role as a major employer in the community.”

Accelerating the Future of Flavor

The 14,000 square-foot facility is divided into sections, including the core R&D lab, the meat processing kitchen, a presentation/social media room, and a boardroom. The design also features a back patio and grilling area for customer meetings, and company and social events.

The new R&D Center is designed as a fully integrated innovation hub. It will feature a greatly expanded R&D lab and a comprehensive meat processing kitchen equipped with commercial-grade machinery.

“This allows Excalibur to replicate the processing capabilities of its diverse customer base,” says John Brewer, Vice-President of Sales & Marketing. “From dry ingredients all the way through to a finished, cooked product like ham, bacon, or deli meat, it will allow us to shorten our product development cycle considerably by handling revisions and final product validation entirely on-site.”

The expanded facility also includes a Presentation Room with built-in video recording capabilities, allowing the team to tape social media content, host classes, and present new concepts to customers. The design also features a back patio and grilling area for meetings, and company and social events.

A Commitment to Growth and Community

The project, which began serious planning shortly after Shrier assumed his role in 2021, required the purchase of five acres of adjacent land to create a unified “Excalibur Campus.” The new center will house R&D and Regulatory teams to foster collaboration across departments.

“This investment shows our employees and the Pekin community that we are putting money back into the business and continuing to grow,” adds Shrier. “It’s a positive affirmation for everyone. As we continue to expand, this growth will inevitably lead to more job creation, increasing our impact as one of Pekin’s largest private employers.”

The addition is slated for completion by mid-summer 2026.