BEATRICE, Neb. - There’s big news for Beatrice and the city’s job opportunities — and for fans of high-protein snacks.

Chomps, the fastest-growing meat snack brand in the United States, has announced plans for a new 160,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Beatrice.

The plant, developed in partnership with Beatrice-based Landmark Snacks, is expected to boost Chomps’ production capacity by 15 percent when it opens in 2027.

Landmark snacks owner Chad Lottman says it’s an exciting opportunity for landmark to grow in partnership with chomps.

"We're very excited to continue our partnership with Chomps," Lottman said. "We've been working with them for a little over a year and a half and the partnership with them opened the doors to build a whole new facility. Building a new facility out in the industrial park, Ridgeview Drive, is the current idea, but exact location is still TBD as we finalize details with the city."

The expansion comes as Chomps continues its rapid rise — reporting 161 percent year-over-year sales growth, far outpacing the rest of the snack industry.

The new facility will create about 150 new jobs in the Beatrice area by 2027.

"We are estimating about 150 new positions with new automation and packaging to help keep things efficient," Lottman said. "That's in addition to the 280-300 we have here now."

Landmark Snacks, a family-owned business founded in 2015, will be partnering with First National Bank of Omaha and Heritage Bank to secure financing for the project.