April 9, 2021

Tyson Foods opens first new poultry plant in 25 years

Major United States meatpacker Tyson Foods has opened its first new poultry plant in 25 years after the COVID-19 pandemic increased demand for chicken at grocery stores, Bloomberg reported.

The new US$425 million plant in Humboldt, Tennessee will begin production this month. 1,500 workers will be employed at the plant by 2023.

The new plant was earmarked to focus on retail customers when it was first announced in 2017, but rising demand for home-cooked meals following the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down restaurants has meant major poultry companies learning further towards retail.

The third biggest poultry company in the United States, Sanderson Farms, said it was evaluating a new site for the construction of a new plant focusing on retail customers.

- Bloomberg