January 10, 2007

Tyson decides not to rebuild fire-damaged plant

Tyson Foods, Inc. will not rebuild its fire-damaged poultry plant in Heflin, Alabama, company officials have reported.

The Heflin plant, with 267 employees, processed approximately one million birds per week before extensive fire damage forced its closure in September last year.

The company is considering expansion of an existing plant or building a new plant at or near another Tyson location in the state.

Bill Lovette, senior group vice president of Poultry and Prepared Foods for Tyson, said it was difficult to leave Heflin but some of the company's other plant locations are better suited for the possible construction of a new plant or a plant expansion.

The company is likely to make a final decision in the first half of 2007.

Tyson¡¯s other Alabama plants are located in Albertville, Ashland, Blountsville and Gadsden, providing employment to approximately 3,300 people.

Most workers at Heflin accepted positions at other Tyson locations in Alabama. The company plans to continue working with most of the contract poultry producers who had been raising chickens for the Heflin operation by having them supply birds for other Tyson plants.