Tyson Foods is expanding its hatchery in Walnut Grove, Mississippi, adding 16,000 square feet to the facility.
The company is investing $18 million in the project, which will be completed in phases. A final design plan for the hatchery is expected to be set in December, and Tyson anticipates that the project will be completed in early 2024.
“We are excited too end 2022 with an economic investment in the state of Mississippi with the expansion of our Walnut Grove hatchery,” said David Bray, Tyson Foods’ group president of poultry. “This project demonstrates our commitment to operational excellence at all Tyson Foods facilities, and our long-term commitment to the Mississippi communities that make all that we do possible.”
The hatchery supports the company’s poultry processing plants in Forest and Carthage, Mississippi, and with an increased capacity to hold chicks and eggs, it will help with operational efficiency at both plants.
Along with the increased capacity comes more available jobs for residents of the area. Open positions will include supervisors, general laborers, contract laborers and drivers. The expansion will also create new contract opportunities for prospective poultry farmers.
“There’s no doubt Tyson Foods has become an integral part of our community’s economic success. We look forward to increasing our impact and welcoming new team members in 2023,” said Mack Walker, live operations manager.
The project is also part of three investments made in Mississippi beginning in 2021. Tyson Foods’ most recent investment in the state was a $90 million expansion to the company’s Forest processing plant. In total, Tyson has a $339 million annual impact in the state and supported more than 3,400 team members in Mississippi.
The Walnut Grove hatchery is one of 38 broiler hatcheries operated by Tyson Foods, according to the WATTPoultry.com Top Companies Database. Tyson is the largest broiler producer in the United States, slaughtering 37 million birds and processing 200.1 million pounds of ready-to-cook chicken, both on a weekly basis.
