Wisconsin beef jerky king Links Snacks Inc., best known for its Jack Link's meat snacks, is expanding in downtown Minneapolis.

The Minong, Wis.-based firm will expand its office space in the Butler North Building by about 20,000 square feet, according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. The company has about 36 existing marketing, sales, accounting, information technology and product development employees in Minneapolis, but the idea is to make space for 20 new workers.

Jeff LeFever, spokesman for Jack Link's Beef Jerky, said, "As demand for Jack Link's products increase, we can continue to support all of the communities we work in by adding new jobs."

DEED Commissioner Katie Clark Sieben said in a statement, "In today's globally competitive environment, we are grateful for Jack Link's committement to Minnesota and for choosing to add their new high-salarioed positions here, where our workforce is our greatest asset."

The state, in its news release, did not quantify the salary levels or the amount the firm is investing in the new space.

Link Snacks was founded by the Link family in northern Wisconsin in the 1880s, and is now the largest meat snack brand in the country. The company employs more than 500 at its headquarters in Minong, and sells over 100 different meat snack products in more than 40 countries.