Pilgrim’s Pride: 200 jobs could go in factory closure

By Oscar Rousseau

- Last updated on GMT

Pilgrim's said it would tried to mitigate the 'impact' of possible job losses
Pilgrim's said it would tried to mitigate the 'impact' of possible job losses

Related tags Poultry

About 200 jobs could be at risk under plans by US poultry processor Pilgrim’s Pride to close its factory in Luverne, Minnesota.

The company’s frozen chicken processing factory in the state of Minnesota will be closed on 29 December 2017.

Pilgrim’s, which has capacity to process around 34 million birds per week, will close the site as it seeks to shift production and equipment to more efficient facilities in the US.

Staff will be offered the chance to work at other factories, although Pilgrim’s did not specify which sites could absorb the extra workers. But there are two midwestern sites, based in Minnesota and Wisconsin, that are in the same geographic region as the soon-to-be-closed Luverne site, according to the company’s website.

‘Impact’ on families

“The Pilgrim’s team explored several options before arriving at the difficult decision to close the Luverne facility,​” said Jayson Penn, head of Pilgrim’s USA.

We recognise the impact this has on our Luverne team, their families and the local community, and we will make every effort to assist in future job placement, including relocation opportunities at other company locations for all impacted employees.​”

Pilgrim’s​ has owned the Luverne facility since buying it from the city in 1998. Formerly a beef production facility, the site was converted to produce frozen and ready-to-cook chicken.

Closure of the factory will have no impact on the company’s overall production capacity and the business will continue to be responsible for producing one in five chickens eaten by Americans every year.

Related topics Meat

Related news

Show more

comments

Post your comment

We will not publish your email address on the website

These comments have not been moderated. You are encouraged to participate with comments that are relevant to our news stories. You should not post comments that are abusive, threatening, defamatory, misleading or invasive of privacy. For the full terms and conditions for commenting see clause 7 of our Terms and Conditions ‘Participating in Online Communities’. These terms may be updated from time to time, so please read them before posting a comment. Any comment that violates these terms may be removed in its entirety as we do not edit comments. If you wish to complain about a comment please use the "REPORT ABUSE" button or contact the editors.

Follow us

Products

View more

Webinars