BY: JOHN MCCRACKEN
Tyson Foods annual sales have doubled in the past two decades, increasing from $26 billion to $53 billion from 2004 to 2023, according to a review of U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
Yet Tyson, which is the country’s largest chicken company, has closed nine meatpacking plants over the past year — including two in Missouri impacting more than 2,000 workers.
The plant closures and the company’s contracts with affected chicken farmers sparked an investigation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The meatpacking company is also being sued for allegations of antitrust violations.
The Arkansas-based company operates 183 chicken facilities in the U.S., including hatcheries, processing plants and feed mills. In addition to chicken, the company’s sales come from beef, pork and prepared foods.
In July, U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley sent a letter to Tyson Foods CEO Donnie King demanding transparency and accountability after a lawsuit brought against his company alleged that Tyson lied about its intentions to sell its chicken plant in Dexter, Missouri, to a competitor.
This article first appeared on Investigate Midwest and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.