Dive Brief:
- Tyson Foods is closing three U.S. processing plants, eliminating more than 1,000 jobs as the company continues to weather a down cattle cycle.
- The nation’s largest meat company will shutter its Emporia, Kansas, beef plant, affecting 809 workers, as well as two prepared foods plants in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that process meat for cheesesteaks, according to WARN Act filings published this week.
- The Emporia plant, which processes seasoned and marinated proteins, as well as ground beef, is scheduled to close Feb. 14, 2025, according to a letter obtained by news outlet KWCH. The two Original Philly factories will close by Jan. 31, affecting 229 workers.
Dive Insight:
The job cuts are the latest by the nation’s largest meat company since the start of 2023.
Over the period, Tyson has closed six chicken processing plants and at least three fresh meats facilities, including a 60-year-old pork plant in Perry, Iowa, after operational and market challenges weighed on earnings.
In recent months, the company has overcome setbacks from its chicken business and seen improvements in the pork and prepared foods units, but issues related to the ongoing U.S. cattle shortage continue to hurt profitability.
Tyson’s Original Philly plants, acquired in 2017 through a merger, are closing “as part of the company’s business strategy to operate more efficiently,” Scott Shipferling, vice president of operations at Tyson, said in a WARN notice obtained by The Philadelphia Inquirer.
A spokesperson said in an email to Mekong Farmer that Tyson plans to work closely with state and local officials to provide additional resources to affected workers, and encourages them to apply for open roles within the company.
“While this decision was not easy, it emphasizes our focus on optimizing our network to best serve our customers,” a Tyson spokesperson wrote.
Tyson has faced backlash and lawsuits over its plans to close facilities, particularly in rural areas where the food giant is a major employer.
Tyson is one of the top employers in Emporia, a city of about 24,000 residents.
In response to the news, Emporia officials said in a statement that they plan to collaborate with local organizations and partners to provide resources, job placement assistance and training opportunities to help laid-off workers.
“While we recognize the challenges this closure presents, Emporia’s economy remains stable and resilient,” the officials said in a statement. “We aim to attract and retain strong and diversified industr[ies] that will provide growth and prosperity for our residents.”