Tyson Foods to build $300m poultry processing plant in Tennessee

Meat producer Tyson Foods has broken ground on its new chicken processing plant in Humboldt, Tennessee, US.

The meat processing firm is planning to invest nearly $300m in the construction of the new facility.

The new plant is expected to create more than 1,500 employment opportunities in the region once operations are commenced in late-2019.

It is set to be situated within the Gibson County Industrial Park and will primarily produce pre-packaged trays of fresh chicken for retail grocery stores nationwide.

The new site will have the capacity to process 1.25 million birds per week.

Tyson Foods poultry group president Doug Ramsey said: “This marks another important step in our journey with the people of Humboldt and Gibson County.

“We’re excited to roll up our sleeves, get to work and continue the successful working relationship we’ve had with the state of Tennessee for more than four decades.”

The plant is expected to generate an annual economic benefit of around $150m for the state.

It is noted to be the second major economic development project to be initiated by Tyson Foods within the last year.

The company previously announced an $84m expansion of its Union City operations last August, which is expected to create almost 300 new jobs, in addition to the existing 1,000 jobs at the facility.

Tyson Foods currently operates four facilities across Tennessee and employs around 5,000 people with an annual payroll of more than $181m.

The US Representative David Kustoff (TN-08) said: “The company’s decision to bring 1,500 new jobs will have an incredible impact on the local economy.”

Tyson Foods has agreed to provide a community grant of $500,000 to Gibson County in support of the development.