Tyson Foods will close its beef and pork non-harvest processing facility in Emporia, Kansas, to increase the efficiency of operations, according to a Tyson Foods spokesperson.
The plant employs about 800 workers, and it will be shuttered in February.
“We understand the impact of this decision on our team members and the local community,” the spokesperson said in an email. “Taking care of our team members is our top priority, and we encourage them to apply for other open roles within the company.
“We are also working closely with state and local officials to provide additional resources to those who are impacted.”
The state of Kansas is important to Tyson Foods, with employment of more than 5,000 team members across the company’s other Kansas facilities, the spokesperson said.
According to numerous media outlets, the company will be moving about 200 employees to Holcomb, Kansas. Tyson Foods is based in Springdale, Arkansas.
U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, expressed his disappointment in a news release issued from his office.
“The news of Tyson’s closing its plant in Emporia breaks my heart. This facility is one of the largest employers in the region, and its closure will leave hundreds unemployed. This is devastating news for these families and the community, especially at Christmas time.
“My office has been in contact with leaders from the city of Emporia, and we are committed to doing everything possible to help these individuals find good jobs.”
The company reported annual sales of $53.3 billion in November for fiscal year 2024, with about $26.4 billion coming from beef ($20.479 billion) and pork ($5.903 billion) operations. Sales from all operations were up 0.8% from 2023.
“We delivered significant improvement in profitability for the fourth quarter and full year. We also strengthened our financial position, with solid cash flow generation and a substantial reduction of our net leverage ratio,” said Donnie King, president and CEO of Tyson Foods in its annual report in November. “Looking ahead, we are optimistic about our outlook and our ability to deliver long-term value to our shareholders. Our multi-protein, multi-channel portfolio, combined with our best-in-class team, iconic brands and focus on operational excellence positions us well for fiscal 2025 and beyond.”
In the beef division, the U.S. Department of Agriculture projects domestic production will decrease approximately 2% in fiscal year 2025 as compared to fiscal year 2024. “We anticipate adjusted operating loss between $(0.4) billion and $(0.2) billion in fiscal 2025,” the company’s annual statement noted.
In the pork division, the USDA projects domestic production will increase approximately 2% in fiscal year 2025 as compared to fiscal year 2024. “We anticipate adjusted operating income of $0.1 billion to $0.2 billion in fiscal 2025.”
Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or dbergme[email protected].
