Tyson Foods, Inc. announced Tuesday that it plans to sell its poultry processing complex in Vienna, Georgia, to House of Raeford Farms as part of its strategy to optimize its plant network.
The complex, which processes chicken for regional retail customers and employs hundreds of workers, will continue operations under House of Raeford Farms, maintaining the existing workforce and grower network.
“This decision is part of Tyson Foods’ ongoing efforts to optimize its plant network. We will continue to service customer orders from other production locations,” the company stated in a news release.
House of Raeford Farms, based in North Carolina, has been seeking to expand its production capabilities and intends to keep the poultry processing operations and workforce in place.
This agreement follows several months of cost-cutting measures by Tyson Foods, including the closure of its pork processing plant in Perry, Iowa, at the end of June, which resulted in the loss of approximately 1,200 jobs. Over the past year, Tyson has also shut down eight other processing plants: six chicken and two fresh meat facilities.
Earlier this year, House of Raeford Farms considered expanding into Aiken County, South Carolina, although it was still too early for officials to comment, as reported by Watt Ag.
In 2015, Tyson invested over $110 million into the Vienna, Georgia complex, transitioning production from food service to retail. This expansion added approximately 100,000 square feet and created 500 jobs in the area. Tyson originally acquired the production assets from Cargill in 1995, according to an investor fact book.
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