Page 38 - AMEFT Journal 2021-2

MEAT, POULTRY & SEAFOOD
Tyson bring operations back to Columbia
Aleader in protein, Tyson Foods Inc. is expanding its case-ready meats business by repurposing plant capacity in South Carolina as part of its strategy to increase production of consumer ready products.
The company plans to reopen an idle Tyson-owned facility in Columbia and convert it into a meat-cutting faci- lity that will produce retail ready, porti- oned packages of sliced, fresh beef and pork, as well as ground beef, for grocery and club stores in the eastern U.S.
“We’re pleased to bring opera- tions back to Columbia and are very grateful for the strong state and lo- cal support we’ve received for this project. Once operational, this new facility will help us meet growing de- mand from our retail customers with high quality, pre-cut, pre-packaged fresh beef and pork,” said Nate Hod- ne, Senior Vice President and Gene- ral Manager of the Portioned Prote-
38 AMEFT 2 2021
With an approximtely $42 million initial investment,the new operation will employ 330 people, more than double the number of team members who worked at the facility when it closed in August 2020.
in Innovations team for Tyson Fresh Meats, the beef and pork subsidiary of Tyson Foods.
Governor Henry McMaster said, “Tyson Foods’ initial $42 million in- vestment, and the 330 jobs that will result from it, will help continue Sou- th Carolina’s tremendous economic
growth. We look forward to conti- nuing our state’s fruitful partnership with Tyson and to their continued commitment to South Carolina and our people.” Meanwhile, South Ca- rolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers, said “Tyson Foods’ reinvestment in the Columbia plant highlights South Carolina’s strategic and geographic importance to agri- business. As we continue to grow the agribusiness industry in the Palmetto State, we’re happy to have Tyson as our partner.”
Tyson Foods’ case-ready beef and pork business currently operates plants in Iowa, Tennessee and Texas and plans to open a new facility in Utah later this year. The operations are called case-ready, because the packaged meats produced by the Tyson facilities are ready to be placed directly in the refrigerated meat case at grocery and club stores.
(Source: Pixabay:Image by Couleur)
www.ameft.com