Tyson Foods said today it plans to close its processing, broiler, and hatching operations in Glen Allen, VA, and a plant in Van Buren, AR. Both closures are scheduled for May 12.
The two facilities employ more than 1,600 people.
Tyson said the closures will help it better use all available capacity at remaining plants, as it moves to streamline its US poultry business.
The company said it will work with its 692 employees in Glen Allen and its 969 employees in Van Buren to apply for open positions at other plants.
Tyson has made other efforts to consolidate its operations in recent months. Last October, the company announced it would relocate 1,000 corporate staff from offices in Illinois and South Dakota to Arkansas.
Tyson said operating inefficiencies were partly to blame for its lower-than-expected profit in its fiscal first quarter, which ended Dec. 31. It also claimed its operating income dropped 68% to $467 million in the period.
Just last week the company launched chicken sandwiches and sliders. As well, the company last week was sued by previous employees, and family members of employees due to no pandemic practices. Read the article "Tyson Workers Sue Company Due to Lack of Pandemic Protections" here.
Last month, it was named NASCAR's official sponsor of the Craftsman Truck Series' Tyson 250 on May 20 during the NASCAR All-Star Race.
