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Tyson Foods will permanently close a pork plant in Perry, Iowa, resulting in the loss of jobs for about 1,200 workers. The company, which enjoyed significant profits amid the surge in meat prices during the Covid-19 pandemic, has encountered a decline and slowing demand for certain products. Tyson's pork business reported an adjusted operating loss of $128 million in the fiscal year ending 30 September, down from an income of $198 million the previous year. Sales volumes decreased by 2.2%, while average prices dropped by 7.9%. This has led to the closure of six US chicken plants in about the past year and layoffs among corporate employees. Employing roughly 1,200 employees, the pork plant serves a population of approximately 8,200 residents. Tyson Foods told FoodBev: "After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to permanently close our Perry, Iowa, pork facility. 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." "While this decision was not easy, it emphasizes our focus to optimise the efficiency of our operations to best serve our customers. Iowa remains a key state for Tyson Foods, with employment of more than 9,000 team members across our other Iowa facilities."