September 19, 2006

Gold Kist offers antibiotic free chicken

Gold Kist Inc, the third largest chicken processor in the US, has announced its new Nature Select(TM) line of antibiotic-free, air chilled chicken.

Raised on an all-vegetable diet, Gold Kist's chickens are also processed using air chilling technology that cools the chickens using filtered cold air rather than by water immersion.

The air chilling process reduces water absorption and retains the natural flavour, texture, and tenderness of the chicken, the company said.

Gold Kist is the first major chicken processor in the US offering this antibiotic-free, air-chilled product, said Gold Kist President and CEO John Bekkers.

The company has invested US$70 million in its Live Oak facility in the state of Florida to double its production capacity for products destined for supermarket chains. It also plans to introduce a similar product line for national restaurant chains and other foodservice customers.

The company recently completed a US$30 million, 80,000 square feet expansion of its poultry facility in Alabama.

The second largest chicken processor in the US, Pilgrim's Pride, last month made a US$1 billion offer to buy Gold Kist, who has yet to act on the offer.