Pilgrim's pride considers shuttering El Dorado plants

Associated Press - April 10, 2008 5:45 PM ET

EL DORADO, Ark. (AP) - Pilgrim's Pride says it's told managers and workers at El Dorado, Arkansas, plants that they may close if the company doesn't see improvements in quality and a return on its investment.

More than 1,600 people work at a processing plant, a feed mill and a hatchery in Union County owned by Pilgrim's Pride.

A spokesman for the Pittsburg, Texas-based pountry processor says there's no timetable for the plant to turn itself around, but he said there isn't much time. Ray Atkinson says the company doesn't want to close the complex, but unless there are immediate changes that'll be the only option.

On March 12th, Pilgrim's Pride announced it was closing a processing plant in North Carolina and 6 of its 12 distribution centers. The company also said it would review its other operations and would consider more closures. Atkinson said the assessment at El Dorado is part of that review.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.kcbd.com/Global/story.asp?S=8149670