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Tyson Foods has announced plans to permanently close its beef and pork processing plant in Kansas, US.
Tyson will shut its plant – which produces products such as seasoned and marinated meats and ground beef – around 14 February 2025, terminating 804 employees, according to a letter it sent to the Kansas Department of Commerce. Tyson said that the closures are part of a strategy to operate more efficiently.
A Tyson Foods spokesperson told FoodBev: “After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to close our beef and pork non-harvest processing facility in Emporia, Kansas to increase the efficiency of our operations. We understand the impact of this decision on our team members and the local community.”
“Taking care of our team members is our top priority and we encourage them to apply for other open roles within the company. We are also working closely with state and local officials to provide additional resources to those who are impacted.”
This is the latest in a number of closures or divestments from Tyson:
July 2024: Tyson to sell Georgia poultry complex
March 2024: Tyson Foods to close Iowa pork plant, impacting 1,200 employees
March 2024: Cal-Maine Foods completes acquisition of Tyson Foods’ assets
November 2023: Tyson Foods to close two US case-ready meat facilities
August 2023: Tyson to shutter four more chicken plants
August 2023: Tyson Foods to sell China poultry business
March 2023: Tyson to close two chicken plants, impacting nearly 1,700 workers
The closures come amid financial pressure as the US cattle herd has dwindled to its smallest size in decades, raising costs for the animals the company processes into meat.
Tyson's beef business, its largest unit, reported an adjusted loss of $291 million in its 2024 fiscal year that ended September, compared with income of $233 million for fiscal year 2023. The company predicts that the business will also suffer an operating loss in fiscal year 2025.
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