Pilgrim’s Pride Will Shut Down Alabama Plant, Lay Off 640

Pilgrim’s Pride will shut down its Athens, Alabama chicken processing plant, laying off 640 employees.

The firm will also shutter one of its two plants in Athens, Georgia. The plants could be reopened at a later date. Those laid off in Alabama may be offered other positions. All will be given outplacement assistance.

Pilgrim’s Pride, headquartered in Pittsburg, Texas, is the largest chicken producer in the United States and Puerto Rico, and the second-largest chicken producer in Mexico. As of December 2008, it is operating under the provisions of the federal bankruptcy code. It has 41,000 employees and 4,500 growers.