In response to a strong demand for broiler breeding stock throughout North America and across the globe, Aviagen plans to begin construction on a new hatchery in September.
The company has selected the strategic location of Longview, Texas, for this ninth installment of its North American fleet, and the first hatchery in the state of Texas.
Slated for completion in July 2022, the new, state-of-the-art hatchery will represent an estimated investment of $27 million and will bring 95 new full-time jobs to the Longview area. With the ability to set 1.1 million eggs per week, the parent stock hatchery will supply customers both domestically in North America and internationally.
According to Vice President of Operations Jason Mack, Longview was chosen because of its close proximity to regional and international airports, as well as its biosecure location away from other bird populations.
“After a long, research-intensive search for the ideal location for our new hatchery, we unanimously chose Longview, a city with a robust labor pool, good work ethic of its citizens, and a strong infrastructure for agribusiness,” said Mack. “We are looking forward to becoming part of Longview and doing our part to promote the success of this thriving community.”
“Even throughout the pandemic, our North American customers have enjoyed a strong demand for healthy, affordable chicken meat,” added Marc de Beer, president of Aviagen North America. “We are committed to securing the supply of quality parent stock to help our customers put food on the tables of families throughout North America and around the world. The new hatchery in Longview will play a big part in this goal.”
Natalie Lynch, chairman of the board for the Longview Economic Development Corp. (LEDCO), said: “We are thrilled that Aviagen has chosen to locate their new facility in Longview. Aviagen will bring a diverse set of jobs to our community, which will be great for our workforce. This project is also further evidence that Longview is on the map for global companies and that makes us very excited for the future of the city.”
