Jennie-O Turkey Store will soon close two hatcheries in Minnesota and one in Wisconsin, a spokesperson for Jennie-O Turkey Store parent company Hormel Foods confirmed.
“We have announced that we entered into a custom hatch agreement with Head Start Hatching in Willmar, Minnesota, to take advantage of their new facility and new technology available to the turkey industry,” the spokesperson wrote in an email to WATT Global Media. “Head Start Hatching will hatch a percentage of our poults. This facility and technology are state of the art and offer improved operational efficiencies and the most ideal conditions for hatching.”
While the company is excited about the prospects working with Head Start Hatching will bring, “it does come with the very difficult decision to close three of our hatchery locations.”
Those locations are in Foley, Minnesota; Henning, Minnesota; and Barron, Wisconsin, and the facilities are expected to close in the late summer of 2024.
All people employed at those three hatcheries will have the option to accept new roles within Hormel Foods at other locations, but if they are unable to secure another position within the company, severance packages will be offered.
About Head Start Hatching
Head Start Hatching, part of the Life-Science Innovations group, recently held the grand opening for its new facility in Willmar.
The hatchery features the Next Nest Hatching system, which was is designed to improve animal welfare and enhance poult performance by giving eggs and their resulting hatchlings constant evolutionary care; including fresh air, food, water and light, until they are fully prepared for life outside this uniquely protective environment.
