Tyson Fresh Meats Temporarily Idles Columbus Junction, Iowa, Pork Plant Following Operations Malfunction

Rhea-AI Summary

Tyson Fresh Meats is temporarily halting production at its Columbus Junction, Iowa, pork plant due to a mechanical failure in the refrigeration system. The shutdown occurred on December 15, 2020, and is expected to last a few days while repairs are evaluated. All 1,100 employees will continue to receive guaranteed pay of 40 hours per week during this period. The company plans to shift production to other plants to minimize disruptions to livestock and product supplies.

Positive

• All full-time employees will receive their guaranteed pay during the shutdown.
• Tyson is capable of relocating production to other plants to maintain supply continuity.

Negative

• Temporary cessation of production may impact short-term revenue.
• Mechanical failure creates uncertainty regarding the timeline for resuming operations.

SPRINGDALE, Ark., Dec. 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tyson Fresh Meats is temporarily idling production at its Columbus Junction, Iowa, pork plant due to a mechanical malfunction in the refrigeration system Tuesday evening. No one was hurt; however, company officials currently believe plant operations could be down for a few days as the team evaluates and mobilizes repairs. It remains too early to provide a definitive timeline for resuming production.

“We’re grateful to the plant management for quickly and efficiently evacuating team members from the building and keeping them safe first and foremost,” stated Steve Stouffer, Group President, Tyson Fresh Meats. “This has been a challenging year, and we want to ensure our team members are safe. Full-time, active team members will continue to be paid weekly until production resumes.”

Stouffer said all full-time active employees are guaranteed 40 hours/week pay.

“We’re taking steps to temporarily move production to other plants,” Stouffer said. “With Tyson Foods multiple pork facilities, we are able to use our other Tyson locations within our network to help keep livestock and product supplies moving in a timely manner with limited customer or farmer disruptions.”

The plant employs approximately 1,100 team members.

About Tyson Foods, Inc.

Tyson Foods, Inc., (NYSE: TSN) is one of the world’s largest food companies and a recognized leader in protein. Founded in 1935 by John W. Tyson and grown under three generations of family leadership, the company has a broad portfolio of products and brands like Tyson®, Jimmy Dean®, Hillshire Farm®, Ball Park®, Wright®, Aidells®, ibp®, and State Fair®. Tyson Foods innovates continually to make protein more sustainable, tailor food for everywhere it’s available and raise the world’s expectations for how much good food can do. Headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, United States, the company has 139,000 team members. Through its Core Values, Tyson Foods strives to operate with integrity, create value for its shareholders, customers, communities and team members and serve as a steward of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it. Visit www.TysonFoods.com
  
Media Contact: 
Liz Croston, 605-235-3657, liz.croston@tyson.com 

Category: IR, Newsroom

FAQ

Why is Tyson Foods temporarily idling the Columbus Junction plant?

Tyson Foods is idling the Columbus Junction plant due to a mechanical malfunction in the refrigeration system.

How long will the Columbus Junction plant be shut down?

The plant shutdown is expected to last a few days while repairs are conducted.

Will employees be paid during the shutdown at the Columbus Junction plant?

Yes, all full-time active employees will continue to receive their guaranteed pay of 40 hours per week.

What steps is Tyson taking to manage production during the shutdown?

Tyson is temporarily moving production to other facilities within its network to minimize disruptions.

How many employees work at the Columbus Junction plant?

The Columbus Junction plant employs approximately 1,100 team members.