House of Raeford uncertain when plant will reopen

House of Raeford Farms stated that it is still uncertain when it will reopen its plant in Mocksville, North Carolina, which was damaged by a fire in the early morning hours of December 14.

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Adam Fast, Freeimages.com
Adam Fast, Freeimages.com

House of Raeford Farms stated that it is still uncertain when it will reopen its plant in Mocksville, North Carolina, which was damaged by a fire in the early morning hours of December 14.

In a statement issued on the afternoon of December 15, the company said that authorities are still in the process of determining the cause of the fire, as well as the extent of the damage the plant in Mocksville received. House of Raeford earlier reported that first responders were on the scene just minutes after the situation was reported.

Production at the facility was suspended after the fire, but House of Raeford continues to pay its employees their regular wages until they are otherwise notified. Employees at the plant are being contacted by company human resources officials with updates, such as when they can expect to return to work. They have also been advised to check the House of Raeford corporate Facebook page or website for any relevant updates.

House of Raeford Farms said it does not expect to experience any major supply disruptions to its customers as a result of the fire.

The fire at the Mocksville plant came less than 10 months after another House of Raeford Farms plant was destroyed by a fire.

House of Raeford’s poultry plant in Teachey, North Carolina, known by the company as the Wallace plant, was destroyed by a fire on February 25. Shortly after the fire occurred, the company promised that it would rebuild. Demolition of the old plant began on April 3, and in late June, House of Raeford announced that it was partnering with general contracting and construction company Fitts & Goodwin to oversee the rebuilding of the plant at the same location. 

House of Raeford Farms, the ninth largest broiler company in the United States, in October reported that the rebuilding of the Wallace plant was progressing as planned, and if things continue at the current pace, the plant will be able to be in operation in the summer of 2018.

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