March 18, 2020
Sanderson Farms maintains poultry processing plants in wake of COVID-19
Joe F. Sanderson, Sanderson Farms chairman and chief executive officer said the company will continue to operate all its 12 poultry processing complexes and prepared chicken plant.
The company has not experienced any supply chain disruptions, and our logistics team continues to meet delivery needs and schedules.
None of Sanderson Farm's staff or contract growers have tested positive for COVID-19, but the company will monitor operations and adopt precautions based on disease expert consultation. A quarantine will be imposed should a staff be infected with COVID-19.
As part of the company's response plan, Sanderson Farms operated one shift at each of its five plants that process chicken for retail grocery store customers on March 14, 2020, and it expects to operate two shifts at each of those plants on March 21, 2020. It will convert its Hammond and Hazlehurst plants to process more birds for retail customersif required.
The company has already imposed several measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in its operations and is in constant contact with federal, state and local authorities should any additional steps to be taken.
Sanderson said the company had US$811.9 million in borrowing capacity with several banks.
- Sanderson Farms