Perdue to sell Alabama plant to Wayne Farms
Perdue Farms announced that it has entered into an agreement to sell its chicken-processing complex in Dothan, Ala., to Wayne Farms, as part of its ongoing strategy to focus on branded products and strategic customer relationships. Both companies expect the sale to close by the first of December.
Perdue has been concentrating on expanding its premium branded and innovative, value-added products, including USDA Process Verified Programs within the Perdue brand and new lines of prepared products, plus antibiotic-free chicken, turkey and pork – and, most recently, organic chicken.
“The Perdue brand is the number-one brand of fresh chicken in the US,” said Jim Leighton, president, Perdue Foods. “Over the past two years, we’ve expanded distribution of our branded products across the US, and we’ve also become the leader in both antibiotic-free and organic chicken turkey.
The Dothan processing facility primarily supplies commodity-based products, which do not align with the company’s strategy. The sale will not affect Perdue’s customers; branded and value-added production from Dothan will be consolidated into existing capacity at other Perdue facilities with the USDA Process Verified Program for “All Vegetarian Fed” and “No Animal By-Products” diets.
“We are actively pursuing a strategy to elevate our products and brands and to build relationships with customers who recognize the value of those brands and the trust in the Perdue name,” said Leighton.
The sale will include the Dothan processing plant, Dothan hatchery and a feed mill and grow-out office DeFuniak Springs, Fla. Perdue will continue to operate a hatchery in Samson, Ala., to support in Perry, Ga., processing plant. The closing will not affect Perdue’s breeder operations in Florida and Alabama.
“While the Dothan plant no longer fits our strategies, I’m pleased Wayne Farms will be able to utilize the plant and especially pleased that they intend to keep all the employees and grower contracts,” said Leighton. “Wayne Farms is a leader in business-to-business sales and Dothan’s capabilities are good fit. The pending sale is a win for both companies, the employees, the growers and the Dothan community.”
Source: Perdue Farms
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