April 23, 2021

Tyson Foods to expand Arkansas poultry operation

Tyson Foods announced April 22 that it will invest US$48 million as part of its commitment to accelerate the long-term growth of its poultry business of its Pine Bluff, Arkansas, poultry plant.

Nearly 70 jobs will be created by the project, which is expected to be complete by late 2021.

"The demand for convenient, high-quality chicken products continues to grow and we're investing in projects that meet the needs of our customers and consumers," says Donnie King, chief operating officer and group president, Poultry for Tyson Foods. "We'd like to thank the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and the Economic Development Alliance for Jefferson County for their assistance and support of this project."

The project will increase capacity to the plant's fully cooked processing lines that in part produces chicken tenders, chicken strips, boneless and bone-in wings and air-fried products. The investment will also add automated processes to product packing lines.

The Pine Bluff plant and related operations were built by Tyson Foods and opened in 1991. It makes fully cooked chicken products for food service and retail customers, such as grocery stores and quick serve restaurants. The facility employs more than 1,100 people and paid nearly US$47 million in wages during its 2020 fiscal year. Annual payout for farmers who raise chickens for the plant was more than US$27 million. The company recently raised starting hourly wages at the facility to at least US$15 an hour.

According to Mike Preston, Secretary of Commerce and Executive Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, poultry production is responsible for about 25% of the agriculture jobs in Arkansas, making the state one of the top five broiler producer states in the country.