Poultry processor AlaTrade Foods Inc. has named industry veteran Josh Whitley to be its new president. Whitley brings more than two decades of experience in the industry with him, and according to a company release, carries a vision for continuous financial stability and growth.
Whitley started his career in the industry working for Tyson Foods and Smithfield Foods, and also managed Carolina Provisions Co. Inc. — his own small food-processing plant in Louisburg, N.C., focused on ready-to-eat barbecue that was distributed to regional retailers. After Whitley sold the facility, he returned to Tyson Foods to join its business engineering team. He worked his way up, serving as assistant plant manager and then plant manager of the company’s Sedalia, Mo., facility.
Whitley was then promoted to Tyson’s managing director of supply chain for non-fresh poultry for a time, before returning to operations, becoming complex manager of Tyson’s North Alabama Complex and eventually vice president of operations for Tyson Foods. In 2023, Whitley and Tyson parted ways, and Whitley had been consulting for a company that facilitates AI in food processing plants to safeguard employee welfare and procedures.
AlaTrade Foods is a 100% employee-owned company with processing plants in Albertville, Boaz and Phenix City, Ala.
