May 15, 2006 10:55 AM, from staff and wire reports

A team of meat processing veterans has formed AnyTime Foods, a combined effort between Flint Hills Foods of Wamego KS and Westin Foods of Omaha NE. Flint Hills Foods is aligning its Chicago IL and Harlan IA bacon and meat processing facilities with Westin Foods' bacon bits and chips plant in Fairbury NE.

Brett Elliott, AnyTime Foods' president, calls the new entity "a unique, turnkey processing concept that lets foodservice distributors, retailers, national accounts, manufacturers, and branded marketers quickly and profitably seize the growing consumer demand for pork and other value-added meat products that are healthy, convenient, and delicious."

Initially, AnyTime Foods will focus on pork processing through its alliance with raw and cooked meat processors. The firm's facilities produce slab and sliced bacon, fully cooked bacon, bacon toppings, and bacon bits, while continuing to supply corned beef and cooked meats including ribs, chops, and roasts. Elliott said the company plans to continue its expansion into a range of meat processing options.