USA – American multinational food corporation Tyson Foods is investing US$61 million into its fully cooked chicken production facility in Vicksburg, Mississippi as part of strategy to accelerate long-term growth of the Tyson® retail brand.
The expansion will increase the production capacity of chicken products for food service customers such as restaurants and schools.
Expansion works are expected to be completed by summer 2022, creating about 50 jobs in the process.
The Mississippi Development Authority is providing assistance for improvements to infrastructure; Warren County and Entergy Mississippi are also assisting with the project.
“The demand for convenient, high-quality chicken products continues to grow and there is no brand more trusted than Tyson – we are pleased to invest in our business as we invest in the great state of Mississippi,” said David Bray, Group President, Poultry for Tyson Foods.
“We’d like to thank the Mississippi Development Authority and Warren County for their assistance and support of this project.”
Tyson Food’s Vicksburg facility currently employs approximately 500 people and is reported to have paid more than US$17 million in wages during the 2020 fiscal year.
Recently, Tyson raised total compensation for team members, including raising hourly wages at the Vicksburg facility to at least US$15 an hour.
This seems like an attempt to retain its labor force at a time when the food industry as a whole is experiencing acute labor shortages.
A similar initiative has also been taken by Sanderson Farms Inc., which has implemented pay increases for all its hourly employees.
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves complimented Tyson, saying it’s commitment to the expansion points back to the state’s business culture.
“For three decades, Tyson Foods has been a valued employer and major economic contributor in Warren County,” Reeves said.
“The company’s ongoing investments in its Vicksburg operations are a testament to Mississippi’s strong business environment and capable workforce.”
The investment in Mississippi follows an earlier announcement by Tyson Foods that it will invest US$300 million to construct a new prepared foods facility in Danville, Virginia.
According to a statement from the company, the project aims to accelerate brand growth and is part of Tyson Food’s commitment to meet increasing demand for its products.
Liked this article? Subscribe to Food Business Africa News, our regular email newsletters with the latest news insights from Africa and the World’s food and agro industry. SUBSCRIBE HERE
