Affording a perfect marriage of resources, location and skilled manpower, it's no wonder Johnston County has such a diverse cross-section of businesses. The area's proximity to Raleigh's population and the brain trust of the Research Triangle allow Johnston County notable success in the manufacturing, retail, food and pharmaceutical industries.

Manufacturing

The manufacturers range from industrial giant Caterpillar's plants in Clayton and Smithfield to Andrew Corp., which makes satellite antennas, to electronic cable producer Carolina Custom Assemblers. Benson is home to PGI Nonwovens, a producer of sanitary and industrial textiles like diapers, medical fiber and insulation. The Flanders-Precisionaire plant in Benson produces air filter components for Flanders Corporation, the largest manufacturer of air filters for high-tech industry in the United States.

Retail

Johnston County's retail force is epitomized by Smithville's Carolina Premium Outlets, a massive chain of outlet stores within easy driving distance of Raleigh. More than 90 apparel, housewares, furnishing, luggage and sundry specialty stores serve a full range of shopping needs.

Food Distribution

Johnston County is a bad place to be a pig, but only in the literal sense. Smithfield Foods, the world's largest pork producer and processor, operates a network of farms, packing plants and distribution centers. Some of their familiar products include Butterball turkeys and Stefano products. The town of Smithfield is the home of Stevens Sausage Company and Carolina Packers. Stevens is known for its smoked ham and chitterlings, while Carolina takes pride in its bologna and Bright Leaf hot dog brand. The Selma branch of food service leader Sysco offers more than 9,000 products and serves an estimated 675 customers per day.

Pharmaceuticals

The most obvious spoils of Johnston County's relationship with the Research Triangle is the emergence of its own pharmaceutical business triangle within Clayton. Global pharmaceutical producer and research center Grifols' manufacturing center is the largest employer in the county. Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a leading force in diabetes care, among many other specialties. The Clayton facility produces items like the FlexPen, a disposable insulin device. The last point of the triangle is Hospira Inc. the world's leading producer of generic syringe-delivery pharmaceuticals.

Read about job opportunities in the Smithfield, NC area.