Tyson Foods informs employees Emporia plant to close in February
EMPORIA, Kan. (KWCH) - Tyson Foods plans to close its plant in Emporia next year. According to a letter sent to employees on Monday from Ernesto Sanchez, vice president of operations for beef and pork, the plant close permanently on February 14, 2025, and employees will be terminated.
A Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice posted on the KansasWorks website states that 809 employees will be affected. A WARN notice is required to be given to employees 60 days before an employer with at least 100 employees closes or announces mass layoffs.
“Because of the nature of our business, certain operations and positions may continue past the date above,” reads the letter. “If your position will be required past February 14, 2025, you will be separately notified by management.”
The letter goes on to state that employees do not have “bumping rights,” meaning they do not have the right to take another team member’s job.
The City of Emporia, Lyon County, Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas, Emporia Main Street, Emporia Chamber of Commerce, Flint Hills Technical College, Emporia State University, United Way of the Flint Hills, and KansasWorks issued a t statement regarding the closure stating that Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. had been a valuable corporate partner over the years.
“Our collective priority is to impacted workers. We are collaborating with local organizations, state agencies, and workforce development partners to provide resources, job placement assistance, and training opportunities.
While we recognize the challenges this closure presents, Emporia’s economy remains stable and resilient. Community leaders will continue to work with key stakeholders at the local, state, and federal level to promote economic growth in Emporia. By working closely with business leaders and stakeholders, we aim to attract and retain strong and diversified industry that will provide growth and prosperity for our residents.
Emporia is a resilient community, and we are confident in our collective ability to navigate this transition. Our community is united and committed to building an even stronger future."
Speaking on behalf of the community, Emporia City Manager Trey Cocking discussed the message that Tyson shared with city leaders.
“What they shared with us [Monday} morning, is that this is part of a business optimization strategy. They have a large facility in Holcomb, so part of this operation, part of what they do here is going to move to Holcomb. So kind of my understanding is that this allows them to be under one large facility,” Cocking said.
The Emporia city manager said the town’s Tyson plant opened in the 1960s, originally as Armour. Tyson Foods later purchased the plant and became one of the top employers for the Emporia community.
Cocking is hopeful that another company can take Tyson’s place.
“Talking to Tyson [Monday] morning, when they’ve done other plant closures, they’ve been able to sell several of their facilities to other operators,” he said. “We’re hopeful that the facility will be sold. We have a strong manufacturing base here in Emporia. Hopeful it will sell and make our manufacturing base even stronger.”
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