ConAgra closing poultry plant; OMP interested in facility

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  Andrea Gantz

  ConAgra Foods has plans to close a poultry plant in Batesville, Arkansas, but Ozark Mountain Poultry is interested in the plant.

  From WATTAgNet:
  A ConAgra Foods chicken processing plant in Batesville, Arkansas, is expected to close in the summer of 2015, but Ozark Mountain Poultry has reportedly expressed an interest in the facility.
  According to reports the ConAgra plant in Batesville will lay off 250 employees in July. Details as to why have been scarce, but, a local attorney who has worked with economic development issues said news of the layoffs began circulating late last week.
  Bob Stroud said some of the employees were told about the situation on March 6. He said people in the Batesville area are hopeful about regaining some of the jobs, possibly with another poultry company, Ozark Mountain Poultry (OMP).
  Dan Hare, ConAgra communications and external relations director, said that the decision was made after company officials assessed the company's operations. Hare said ConAgra found that making the product at another location would help make the company operate efficiently and remain competitive. The employees who will lose their jobs will have the opportunity to apply for jobs at other factories or will be eligible for severance pay in July, according to Hare.
  Ozark Mountain Poultry hopes to take over closing facility
  Ozark Mountain Poultry says it hopes to close a deal to take over the ConAgra plant.
  “We are pleased to expand our investment in Arkansas and contribute to the state's poultry industry with the intended purchase of the facility located adjacent to our Batesville operation,” Ed Fryar, Ozark Mountain Poultry CEO, said. “We plan to retrofit the building to accommodate a new poultry processing line. This will allow us to expand rapidly and with minimal disruption to our current processing operation. Our target completion is scheduled for early 2016.”
  Fryar also added, “This investment is part of the company's overall growth strategy. OMP is currently also constructing a new feed mill in Magness, Arkansas, to support its increased operations. The feed mill will be completed by early 2016 as well.”
  If OMP is able to secure a deal, it is not known how many employees would be retained or added.