More than 800 employees will lose their jobs in Emporia, KS, as Tyson Foods has announced the planned closure of its value-added marinated proteins and ground beef plant.
A spokesperson for the city of Emporia told DTN the decision to close Tyson operations in Emporia was made as part of “the company’s business strategy to operate more efficiently,” according to a letter sent to city officials by Ernesto Sanchez, vice president of beef and pork operations for Tyson.
Tyson announced the anticipated closure in a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act notice to the state of Kansas. The act requires employers to inform workers in advance of a plant closing or mass layoff.
In a letter to employees, Sanchez said the last day of operations at the plant would be on or about Feb. 14, 2025.
“After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to close our beef and pork non-harvest processing facility in Emporia, Kansas, to increase the efficiency of our operations,” a spokesperson for Tyson Foods told DTN in a statement.
“We understand the impact of this decision on our team members and the local community. Taking care of our team members is our top priority and we encourage them to apply for other open roles within the company. We are also working closely with state and local officials to provide additional resources to those who are impacted. The state of Kansas is important to Tyson Foods, with employment of more than 5,000 team members across our other Kansas facilities.”
Emporia and Lyons County officials said they are working to help employees in light of the announcement.
The city of Emporia, Lyon County, the Regional Development Association, Emporia Main Street, Emporia Chamber of Commerce, Flint Hills Technical College and Emporia State University, said in a joint statement that, “Tyson has been a valuable corporate partner” and the groups said they are doing all they can to help workers.
“While we recognize the challenges this closure presents, Emporia’s economy remains stable and resilient,” the groups said. “Community leaders will continue to work with key stakeholders at the local, state, and federal level to promote economic growth in Emporia.”
On Nov. 12, Tyson Foods reported nearly a 1% increase in sales compared to 2023, including a 1.6% increase in sales in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the same quarter in 2023. — Todd Neeley, DTN environmental policy editor
