April 1, 2014

With no subsequent reduction in employment, Perdue farms has announced plans to convert its Georgetown distribution centre to a shipping department, as the company realigns its Northeast distribution to support growth.

The Georgetown facility will become a dedicated shipping site for the Georgetown processing plant, which is increasing production, Perdue said of the change scheduled for the summer months. At the same time, distribution of products from plants supplying Northeast customers will move to a third party operated by Americold in Leesport, Pennsylvania, Perdue said.

"While the Georgetown distribution facility lacks the space and infrastructure to efficiently support growth as a distribution centre shipping products from multiple plants, it will remain important to supporting the Georgetown processing plant," Lester Gray, senior vice president of Operations for Perdue Foods said.

About 30-40 workers will remain at the site in shipping positions for the processing facility and the remainder of staff will be offered positions within the Georgetown plant and other nearby facilities, including sites in Milford and Salisbury, Maryland, according to Julie DeYoung, Perdue spokeswoman.

The firm will begin moving distribution from Georgetown to Leesport, Pennsylvania, which is about three hours closer to the majority of the company's Northeast customers - in early June. Perdue Foods expects to complete the transition in late August.

"Americold is the leader in temperature-controlled distribution and logistics, and expansion of our partnership with them in Leesport will enable us to focus our efforts on continued market leadership in premium brands and products," Gray said. "At the same time, they'll provide us with state-of-the-art technology in a modern, efficient facility to better serve our customers."

The realignment is in support of growth across Perdue Foods portfolios, including Perdue, Harvestland, Coleman Natural, Coleman Organic and customer-owned brands.

Delaware's five poultry plants include Perdue Farms in Georgetown and Milford, Mountaire in Millsboro and Selbyville and Allen Harim in Harbeson. Sussex County is recognised as the number one broiler-producing county in the nation.

Perdue also announced expansion of its Mid Atlantic Replenishment Centre in Prince George, Virginia. The company is making investments there to increase capacity. The centre receives packaged fresh chicken products from Perdue processing plants across the region. Packages are then labelled and boxed for individual customers and shipped.