USA – Meat industry giant Tyson Foods is set to initiate another round of layoffs, this time targeting its Wilkesboro facility in North Carolina, as the company continues to adjust its operations.
According to local news outlet WXII, an affiliate of NBC, the workforce reductions are linked to changes in processing needs for Tyson’s fully cooked products, which require fewer employees.
While the exact number of layoffs remains undisclosed, reports from The Wilkes Record suggest that anywhere between 400 and 1,000 workers could be affected.
Tyson has indicated that it will support displaced employees in finding new roles, either within the company or elsewhere.
Fox 8 also reported on the development, featuring a statement from a Tyson spokesperson that confirmed the transition in production at the Wilkesboro plant.
“Due to increasing demand, we are shifting production in our Wilkesboro, NC facility to support our Tyson fully cooked products. As a result of these process changes, fewer positions will be required in the facility,” the spokesperson said.
The company emphasized its commitment to assisting employees impacted by these changes.
This latest announcement comes on the heels of a series of closures and job cuts Tyson has enacted over the past year.
In March, the company revealed plans to close a pork processing plant in Perry, Iowa, affecting 1,276 jobs.
The closure followed the company’s announcement in November of last year to shut down two case-ready meat production facilities in Jacksonville, Florida, and Columbia, South Carolina.
Earlier in 2023, Tyson also outlined plans to close four chicken processing plants in Missouri, Indiana, and Arkansas, citing declining demand and reduced profits.
These closures resulted in the loss of over 1,600 jobs.
Despite the workforce reductions, Tyson reported a notable improvement in its financial performance during the third quarter of the year.
CEO Donny King pointed to a “turnaround” in the company’s fortunes, with operating income rising to US$341 million, compared to a loss of US$350 million the previous year.
Adjusted operating income also surged, reaching US$491 million, a 174% increase year-on-year.
Third-quarter sales rose to US$13.35 billion, surpassing analysts’ expectations of US$13.24 billion.
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