Perdue Farms closes Tennessee plant

MONTEREY, Tenn. (AP) — Perdue Farms plans to close a processing plant in Tennessee that employs more than 430 people.

In a press release on Thursday, the company confirmed that the Monterey facility will close in late March. Changes in market demand and how the company produces and supplies its products have affected the Monterey plant in recent years, she said.

The company known for its chicken says it is offering affected workers in Tennessee severance packages with additional pay and employment assistance.

“While this is an extremely difficult decision, it is essential to ensure Purdue remains fit for the future,” CEO Kevin McAdams said in the press release. “We must make tough choices today to continue to effectively serve our customers and consumers, and to continue growing our company.

Perdue Farms, headquartered in Salisbury, Maryland, was founded in 1920. It employs more than 20,000 workers and annual sales of more than $10 billion, focusing on poultry, livestock and other agriculture.