UFCW Sioux Falls Union Votes to Authorize Strike Against Smithfield

The Sioux Falls chapter of the United Food and Commercial Workers union has authorized a strike at the Smithfield Foods pork processing plant in South Dakota. The union met with company representatives Tuesday and said they hope to avoid a work stoppage.

The union is demanding that Smithfield increases its wages. UFCW Local 304A President B.J. Motley explained "We feel that during a pandemic year and after calling Smithfield workers heroes for coming to work on a daily basis to feed America, they haven't shown that appreciation at all during negotiations."

No deadline has been set yet for when a strike could happen. Hog slaughter operations are expected to...

Tyson Foods to Expand Arkansas Poultry Operation

Tyson Foods will invest $48 million as part of its commitment to accelerate the long-term growth of its poultry business and continued success of its Pine Bluff, Arkansas, poultry plant, company officials said. Nearly 70 jobs will be created by the project, which is expected to be complete by late 2021.

“The demand for convenient, high-quality chicken products continues to grow and we’re investing in projects that meet the needs of our customers and consumers,” said Donnie King, Chief Operating Officer and Group President, Poultry for Tyson Foods. “We’d like to thank the...

Cargill Unveils Plans for New Canola Processing Facility in Regina, Saskatchewan

Cargill announced plans to break ground on a new canola processing facility in Regina, Saskatchewan, to support the growing global demand for canola products. The company expects to begin construction on the $350 million project, which will have a similar design to Cargill’s existing Camrose facility, early next year with plans to be operational by early 2024. The company will also update and modernize its canola facilities in Camrose and Clavet over the next 12 months to increase volume and broaden capabilities at both locations.

“We are confident in the continued growth and competitiveness of the canola processing industry and look forward to helping farmers access increasing...

Tyson Foods Invests $425 Million in New Tennessee Poultry Complex

Tyson Foods along with local, state and federal officials met Thursday to officially open the company’s new poultry complex in Humboldt, Tennessee. The $425 million project, which includes a processing plant, feed mill and hatchery, represents Tyson’s biggest investment in Tennessee and the single largest corporate investment ever in Gibson County.

“We’re pleased to add to the growth in Gibson County with the opening of our new 370,000 square foot processing facility,” said Dean Banks, President and CEO, Tyson Foods. “We appreciate the support of all those who played a role in making this facility possible—the local community, county, state and...

Olymel Announces Investment to Increase Production Capacity at Ange-Gardien Pork Processing Plant

Olymel management today announced an investment of $9 million to set up a second shift at its Ange-Gardien (formerly F.Ménard) hog slaughtering, cutting and deboning plant in Montérégie-Est, Quebec. This investment and the new evening shift will create more than 250 new jobs and should be in operation by next September. The plant, which already employs a total of 680 people, will see that number grow to more than 900, making it one of the largest employers in the region.

“This announcement is in line with Olymel’s development strategy and growth objectives. Olymel is capitalizing on synergies from the January 2020 acquisition of F.Ménard, one of the leaders of the Quebec pork industry. With this investment...

Tyson Foods Completes Waterloo Investigation

An independent investigation into wagering allegations at Tyson Foods’ pork plant in Waterloo, Iowa, has led to the termination of seven plant management employees.

“We value our people and expect everyone on the team, especially our leaders, to operate with integrity and care in everything we do,” said Tyson Foods President & CEO Dean Banks. “The behaviors exhibited by...

Tyson Foods Issues Statement on Waterloo Lawsuit Allegations

Tyson Foods, Inc. issued the following statement from Tyson Foods President & CEO Dean Banks in response to allegations made in an amended lawsuit involving the company’s pork plant in Waterloo, Iowa:

“We are extremely upset about the accusations involving some of the leadership at our Waterloo plant. Tyson Foods is a family company with 139,000 team members and these allegations do not represent who we are, or our Core Values and Team Behaviors. We expect every team member at Tyson Foods to operate with...

Agrotop to Build Georgia's Largest Food Processing Plant for Chirina

Agrotop, a leading global player in the poultry and livestock industry, will build a new state-of-the-art meat processing plant for Chirina, Georgia's largest food-producing company.

The completed ready-to-eat (RTE) food processing plant is expected to begin production within a year and generate 8–10 tons of chicken products per day. The factory, which will be Georgia's largest, will produce sliced meats, sausages and cold cuts.

The new production facility will be built in a modular way, enabling...

Giannone Poultry Announces the Closure of Its Drummondville Plant

The management of Giannone Poultry regrets to announce the definitive closure of its poultry processing plant in Drummondville, acquired last July. Seventy employees are affected by this closure scheduled for November 6. All employees were informed at a meeting, as well as through a personal letter. In accordance with the Quebec Labour Standards Act, severance pay will be paid to each employee, and Giannone Poultry will also set up a reassignment committee in particular to offer jobs at its St-Cuthbert plant and to assist employees in their job search.

Giannone Poultry will now concentrate its activities at its St-Cuthbert plant in Lanaudière. The company has made all arrangements to honour existing supply contracts...

Olymel Invests Over $30 Million in St-Damase Poultry Processing Plant 

Olymel management announced an investment of more than $31.5 million to expand its poultry slaughtering and cutting plant in St-Damase, Montérégie, in order to diversify operations and add new activities. This project will result in the creation of more than 80 new jobs and bring the total number of employees at this facility to nearly 500, spread over two shifts. This major investment is aimed in particular at equipping the plant with additional cutting, deboning and tray packing lines, as well as new high-capacity, state-of-the-art equipment. The work, which is expected to last about a year, will take place without interrupting the plant's current operations and had begun...

Maple Leaf Foods Provides Update on COVID-19 at Brandon Plant

Maple Leaf Foods Inc. is continuing its rigorous safety efforts at its Brandon, Manitoba, plant to prevent workplace transmission amidst the recent COVID-19 cluster occurring in the community. The plant continues to operate safely, and Public Health experts have said on numerous occasions that there is no evidence of workplace transmission occurring at the plant.

The Company is extending its efforts to reduce spread of COVID-19 within the community by reinforcing the importance of precautions such as social distancing and by making 500,000 free masks available to community members.

Operationally, Maple Leaf Foods has temporarily suspended pork exports to China on a voluntary basis due to recent protocols adopted by...