Tyson Foods is planning to release 1,700 employees and close two chicken plants

March 15, 2023: Tyson Foods will close two chicken plants in May, affecting nearly 1,700 workers.

“While the decision was not easy, reflecting our broader strategy to strengthen our poultry firm by optimizing operations and utilizing complete available capacity at each plant,” Tyson stated.

In its previous quarter, Tyson’s chicken firms underperformed anticipations as its operating income was halved compared to the year-ago period.

Demand will be transferred to different Tyson facilities. The firm’s plants in Van Buren, Arkansas, and Glen Allen, Virginia, will close on May 12. The Wall Street Journal first stated the upcoming closures.

Tyson stated that it is helping affected workers apply for open jobs and offers relocation assistance to the different plants. The Glen Allen plant has 692 workers, while the Van Buren facility has 969 workers.

The meat giant is the recent food supplier to lay off workers to cut costs.

Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods, which make alternative meats, have missed more than a fifth of their workforces as demand wanes for their products and the firms look to conserve cash. Coca-Cola

 offered voluntary buyouts to North American employees, while PepsiCo is slashing the jobs in its Frito-Lay and North American beverage units. Spice giant McCormick stated that it would offer buyouts and lay off employees as part of a plan to save $75 million.