Pilgrim’s Pride looking elsewhere for rendering plant

Following the Gadsden Airport Authority’s decision to deny Pilgrim’s Pride’s offer to buy industrial land at the Northeast Alabama Airport for a poultry rendering plant, Pilgrim’s Pride is considering other locations to build the facility.

After hearing local opposition to the proposed rendering plant, which would have produced pet food ingredients, the airport authority unanimously voted against Pilgrim’s offer to buy the property for $1,100,000 or enter a 30-year lease for $55,000 a year. The Federal Aviation Administration had also communicated with Rep. Robert Aderholt, whose congressional district includes Gadsden, that the agency may not approve the project because a rendering plant could be considered a “hazardous wildlife attractant.”

Cameron Bruett, director of corporate affairs for Pilgrim’s Pride, told the Gadsden Times that the company “regrets that it will not have the opportunity to contribute to the economic development of Gadsden.”

When asked if Pilgrim’s was still looking to build a rendering plant, but at a different location, the following statement from Bruett was emailed to WATT Global Media: “Pilgrim’s recognizes the significant need to increase poultry production capacity in the State of Alabama to meet growing consumer demand. We continue to explore investment options in the state to support industry growth and additional opportunities for poultry growers.”

The controversy surrounding Pilgrim’s intent to locate the plant at the airport resulted in the filing of lawsuits, which Jim Williams, attorney for the airport authority, urged the plaintiffs to withdraw, stating that "all issues regarding the proposed developments are now resolved."

Pilgrim’s Pride told the Gadsden Times that it was filing motions that sought to withdraw such litigation.

Pilgrim’s Pride, according to the WATTPoultry.com Top Companies Database, is the second largest poultry producer in the United States, having processed 161.66 million pounds of ready-to-cook chicken on a weekly basis during the past year.