Tyson to expand international production operations with two new factories

Tyson Foods has announced that it will build new production facilities in China and Thailand and expand its factory in the Netherlands, in an effort to boost its international production operations.

These production expansions will reportedly add 100,000 metric tonnes of fully cooked poultry capacity, building on the company’s global growth strategy to serve emerging markets and strategic customers.

According to Tyson, the new plant in China is expected to create more than 700 jobs and the European expansion will add more than 150 jobs.

Meanwhile, the construction of the plant in Thailand forms part of a long-standing joint venture with GFPT Public Company Limited, and is expected to create than 1,000 jobs.

In the 2019 financial year, Tyson generated $5.4 billion in international sales – including US export sales – while recent acquisitions and joint venture agreements have seen the company expand its footprint in markets including China, India, Brazil and more; providing the company with enhanced access to several global markets.

Dean Banks, president and CEO of Tyson Foods, said: “Global population and income growth will continue to drive an increased need for protein.

“These investments allow us to increase our in-country operations and global export capabilities, helping us bring more safe, high-quality protein for consumers in these countries as well as for customers in other parts of the world.”

Tyson Foods International president, Chris Langholz, added: “We have been aggressively building our overseas presence servicing foodservice and expanding into retail with innovative products.

“Our team recently launched the Tyson brand into key markets including in European foodservice and in Thailand retail through e-commerce. We invested in e-commerce platforms in Malaysia and Australia to meet consumer demand as Covid-19 accelerates e-commerce food delivery across the globe.

“The marketplace is changing, and we’re changing with it. We’ll continue to enhance our ability to serve growing global demand for value-added protein.”

In August, Tyson reported that the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic had created one of the “most volatile and uncertain periods” in the meat industry in recent memory, with the company reporting a 7.9% decrease in third-quarter net revenue.

As a result, former CEO Noel White stepped down for his position, and Dean Banks assumed the role as the company’s new CEO in October.