Perdue Farms to Close Poultry Plant, Lay Off HundredsPerdue Farms to Close Poultry Plant, Lay Off Hundreds

The processing plant in Tennessee employs more than 430 people and is expected to close in March.

Kristen Kazarian, Managing Editor

January 24, 2025

2 Min Read
Perdue Farms closing processing plant in Monterey, TN.
Perdue said it will provide severance packages, additional severance pay, and job placement for workers.Picsfive/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

Perdue Farms has announced it will close a processing plant in Tennessee that employs 433 people.

The company confirmed that the Monterey, TN facility would close in late March, according to local news reports. The company said changes in market demand and how the company produces and supplies its products have affected the Monterey plant in recent years.

“While this decision is incredibly difficult, it is necessary to ensure Perdue remains fit for the future,” CEO Kevin McAdams said in the news release. “We must make challenging choices today to continue to serve our customers and consumers effectively, and to continue to grow our company.

Perdue Farms, based in Salisbury, MD, is the parent company of Perdue Foods and Perdue AgriBusiness. Founded in 1920, the company has around 21,000 people and 36 facilities in the US.

 Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter said in a Facebook post that the plant has been a part of Monterey and Putnam County’s economy for many years.

The post included a statement from Perdue Farms: “This decision comes as part of the company’s overall focus on continuous improvement and modernization of its supply chain to meet evolving consumer demands and operational needs. Changes in market demand and how the company produces and supplies its products have impacted the Monterey facility in recent years. Addressing these challenges would require substantial additional investments to maintain operations.

Related:Syntegon Reopens Expanded Site with Additional Production Space

This was difficult news for our associates, and please know a decision like this is something we take very seriously, and one that was not made lightly. We are committed to doing everything we can to help our associates through this transition. To support affected associates, Perdue will provide severance packages, which include extended WARN protections for up to 10 weeks, additional severance pay beyond the standard compensation, and job placement support to assist in their transition."

About the Author

Kristen Kazarian

Managing Editor

Kristen Kazarian has been a writer and editor for more than three decades. She has worked at several consumer magazines and B2B publications in the fields of food and beverage, packaging, processing, women's interest, local news, health and nutrition, fashion and beauty, automotive, and IT.

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