8-K

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K
                                 CURRENT REPORT


                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) November 12, 1996




                             SMITHFIELD FOODS, INC.

             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


    DELAWARE                      0-2258                  52-0845861

(State or other                (Commission              (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of                File Number)           Identification No.)
incorporation)


         900 DOMINION TOWER
         999 WATERSIDE DRIVE
          NORFOLK, VIRGINIA                            23510

 (Address of principal executive                     (Zip Code)
             offices)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code (757) 365-3000








ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS

         Joseph  W.  Luter,   III,  Chairman  and  Chief  Executive  Officer  of
Smithfield  Foods,  Inc.  ("Smithfield  Foods" or the  "Company")  announced  on
November  12, 1996,  that John O.  Nielson has  resigned as President  and Chief
Operating  Officer,   and  as  a  Director,   of  Smithfield  Foods,   effective
immediately.

         Lewis R.  Little,  age 53,  President  and Chief  Operating  Officer of
Gwaltney of  Smithfield,  Ltd., a  wholly-owned  subsidiary of Smithfield  Foods
("Gwaltney"),  has been appointed  President and Chief Operating  Officer of the
Company, replacing Mr. Nielson.

         Timothy A. Seeley, age 47, Vice President,  Sales and Marketing,  Fresh
Meats of Gwaltney,  will replace Mr.  Little as  President  and Chief  Operating
Officer of Gwaltney.

         The  foregoing is qualified  entirely by reference to the Press Release
of the Company issued on November 12, 1996,  which is attached hereto as Exhibit
99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.



ITEM 7.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

   (c)    Exhibits.

         Exhibit 99.1     Press Release issued by Smithfield Foods, Inc.  
                          on November 12, 1996







                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                           SMITHFIELD FOODS, INC.
                           (Registrant)

                           By:   Aaron D. Trub
                                  (Signature)

                                 Aaron D. Trub
                                 Vice President, Secretary and
                                    Treasurer



Dated:   November 14, 1996

EX-99

EXHIBIT 99.1
- ------------


           S M I T H F I E L D   F O O D S   N E W S    R E L E A S E



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                       For More Information
                                                                   Aaron D. Trub
                                                                    757-365-3000



                    John 0. Nielson Resigns As President And
                Chief Operating Officer Of Smithfield Foods, Inc.
                -------------------------------------------------


         NORFOLK, Virginia, November 12, 1996 - - Joseph W. Luter, III, Chairman
and Chief Executive  Officer of Smithfield Foods Inc., today announced that John
0. Nielson has  resigned as  President  and Chief  Operating  Officer,  and as a
Director, of Smithfield Foods, Inc., effective immediately.

         Lewis R. Little,  President and Chief Operating  Officer of Gwaltney of
Smithfield,  Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Smithfield Foods, Inc., has been
appointed  President and Chief Operating  Officer of the Company,  replacing Mr.
Nielson. Mr. Little is 53 years old.

         Timothy A. Seely, Vice President,  Sales and Marketing,  Fresh Meats of
Gwaltney,  will replace Mr. Little as President and Chief  Operating  Officer of
Gwaltney. Mr. Seely is 47 years old.

         "John  Nielson made a large  contribution  to the success of Smithfield
Foods during his  relatively  short tenure as the Company's  president and chief
operating  officer,  and for this we thank him. Because of his efforts and those
of the  strong  management  team  currently  in place  throughout  the  Company,
Smithfield  Foods had a good  second  quarter,  which  ended  October 27, and is
looking forward to a successful holiday season," Luter said.

         "Lewis  Little has done an  outstanding  job at Gwaltney  over the last
three years,  leading that company to record  profitability  in fiscal 1996, and
again setting a record pace in fiscal 1997. I have total confidence in Lewis and
believe  he will make an  outstanding  contribution  to the  future  success  of
Smithfield Foods in his new position as president and chief operating  officer,"
Luter said.