If pepperoni had a capital city, it would probably be Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Companies like Smithfield Foods (yes, the pork giant) operate massive facilities there that churn out millions of pounds of pepperoni every year.
It makes sense when you think about it: the Midwest is where most of America’s hogs are raised. Pepperoni is primarily made from a mixture of pork and beef, so the factories sit right in the middle of the raw material supply chain.
Another major hub is Nebraska, home to Hormel Foods—the company that basically invented modern pepperoni in the 1950s. Their plant in Fremont supplies chains like Domino’s and Pizza Hut, which use billions of slices a year.
