Pilgrim's Pride Corporation announced plans on April 13 to close its chicken processing plant in Dalton, Ga., within 60 days and consolidate production at the company's processing facility in Chattanooga, Tenn. According to Pilgrim's Pride, these actions are aimed at improving the company's capacity utilization and reducing its costs.
The company says approximately 280 employees who work at the Dalton plant will be affected by the closing. The hatchery in Cohutta, Ga., will continue to operate. Other live production operations will also continue to function, but as a part of the Chattanooga complex or other nearby operations. Approximately 120 independent contract growers who currently supply birds to the Dalton processing plant will be transitioned to begin supplying the company's Chattanooga plant or other nearby company facilities within approximately 90 days.
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