EXHIBIT 99.3

                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

            Smithfield Foods Names C. Larry Pope President and Chief
        Operating Officer As Part Of New, Expanded Management Structure

Smithfield, Virginia (October 19, 2001)--Smithfield Foods, Inc. (NYSE: SFD)
today announced a new, expanded management structure to facilitate the company's
rapid growth.

C. Larry Pope was named president and chief operating officer, effective October
29, 2001.  Joseph W. Luter, III, chairman and chief executive officer, is
relinquishing the title of president, which he previously held.  Richard J.M.
Poulson and Joseph W. Luter, IV, were named executive vice presidents.

"Smithfield Foods has grown in size and complexity as we have vertically
integrated pork processing and hog production, and, more recently, acquired beef
operations," said Mr. Luter.  "The company now has annual sales of more than $8
billion and has doubled in size in the last four years.  This management team
has the talent and experience to lead our next phase of growth."

All meat processing and hog production operations will report to Mr. Pope, 47
years old, who previously was vice president and chief financial officer.  A 21-
year veteran of Smithfield Foods, he has held several financial positions,
including vice president, finance, and corporate controller.

"Larry Pope has been a key member of the management team for over 20 years.  The
financial discipline he has brought to our operations has been critical," said
Mr. Luter.  "In his new role, Larry will add even more value as the company
works to continue to provide some of the highest returns to shareholders in
American industry."

Mr. Poulson, 63, retains his responsibilities of senior advisor to the chairman
as an executive vice president.  Joseph W. Luter, IV, 36, will head a major new
corporate initiative to invoke a closer relationship between the operating
subsidiaries to maximize the available synergies within the Smithfield Foods
family of companies.  In this new capacity, he will be responsible for
coordinating corporate sales and marketing programs, as well as transportation,
logistics and information technology affecting the entire organization.  He
previously was senior vice president, sales and marketing at Smithfield Packing
Company.

Daniel G. Stevens, 42, formerly vice president and corporate controller,
succeeds Mr. Pope as vice president and chief financial officer.  He joined
Smithfield Foods as corporate controller in 1998.  Jeffrey A. Deel, 43,
assistant corporate controller, was named corporate controller.  He has served
on the financial reporting staff of the company since 1994.

The company said that it would close the acquisition of beef processor
Packerland Holdings, Inc. next week and that Rich Vesta, president and chief
executive of Packerland, would head a new beef division.

Smithfield Foods has delivered a 28 percent average annual compounded rate of
return to investors since 1975.  In the last 15 years, the company's share price
has outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 350 percent.  With annual sales
of $6 billion, Smithfield Foods is the leading processor and marketer of fresh
pork and processed meats in the United States, as well as the largest producer
of hogs.  For more information, please visit www.smithfieldfoods.com.

This news release may contain "forward-looking" information within the meaning
of the federal securities laws. The forward-looking information may include
statements concerning the Company's outlook for the future, as well as other
statements of beliefs, future plans and strategies or anticipated events, and
similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. The
forward-looking information and statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
expressed in, or implied by, the statements. These risks and uncertainties
include availability and prices of live hogs, raw materials and supplies, live


hog production costs, product pricing, the competitive environment and related
market conditions, operating efficiencies, access to capital, the cost of
compliance with environmental and health standards, adverse results from ongoing
litigation and actions of domestic and foreign governments.

                                      ####

Contact:
Jerry Hostetter
Smithfield Foods, Inc.
(212) 758-2100