March 23, 2007

Tyson to divest raw product market to concentrate on value-added sector

Tyson Foods Inc announced Thursday (Mar 22) it would sell two of its Alabama poultry plants, hatcheries and a feed mill to concentrate on value-added products.

The company said it would sell the facilities to Koch Foods Inc and the sale is expected to be completed by late May.

By then, about 400 employees would lose their jobs as Tyson shifts processing activities to other locations. In all, about 1,200 Tyson employees would be affected by the sale.

Tyson has said it will focus more on value-added chicken production rather than commodity chicken products.