Tyson Foods

Tyson Foods

Tyson Foods, Inc. is an American multinational corporation based in Springdale, Arkansas, that operates in the food industry. The company is the world’s second largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef, and pork after JBS S. A. It operates major food brands, including Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm, Ball Park, Wright Brand, Aidells, and State Fair. As of 2014, the company employs 115,000 people, who work at more than 300 facilities.

About Tyson Foods in brief

Summary Tyson FoodsTyson Foods, Inc. is an American multinational corporation based in Springdale, Arkansas, that operates in the food industry. The company is the world’s second largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef, and pork after JBS S. A. It operates major food brands, including Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm, Ball Park, Wright Brand, Aidells, and State Fair. As of 2014, the company employs 115,000 people, who work at more than 300 facilities, over 100 of which are in the US. Every week, its 54 chicken plants, 13 beef plants, and six pork plants slaughter and package 42.5 million chickens, 170,938 cattle, and 347,891 pigs. Tyson Foods has been involved in a number of controversies related to the environment, animal welfare, and the welfare of their own employees. During the COVID-19 pandemic Tyson Foods did not implement recommended best practices to protect its workforce, including social distancing measures, plexiglass barriers and wearing of face masks. Tyson has also acquired such companies as Hudson Foods Company, Garrett poultry, Washington Creamery, Franz Foods, Prospect Farms, Krispy Kitchens, Ocoma Foods, Cassady Broiler, Vantress Pedigree, Wilson Foods, Honeybear Foods, Mexican Original, Valmac Industries, Heritage Valley, Lane Poultry, Cobb-Vantress, Holly Farms, Wright Brands, Inc and Don Julio Foods. In June 2014, Tyson won the bidding war against Pilgrim’s Pride, agreeing to buy the maker of Jimmy Dean sausage and Ball Park hot dogs for USD 8.7 billion.

In May 2018, Tyson announced the acquisition of American Proteins Inc and AMPRO Products, Inc for approximately USD 850 million. In early 2018, through its venture arm Tyson Ventures, invested in Beyond Meat, Memphis Meats, and Future Meat Technologies, developing cultured meat plant-based products. Former CEO Tom Hayes said the investments might seem counterintuitive but are part of an effort to meet future consumer demand in a sustainable way. Tyson is one of the largest U.S. marketers of chicken,. beef and pork to retail grocers, broad line foodservice distributors and national fast food and full-service restaurant chains. It supplies Yum! Brands chains that use chicken, including KFC and Taco Bell, as well as McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, Wal-Mart, Kroger, IGA, Beef O’Brady’s, and small restaurant businesses, and prisons. In 2001, Tyson Foods acquired IBP, Inc, the largest beef packer and number two pork processor in the United States, for US$3. 2 billion in cash and stock. On July 5, 2014, Tyson said it would sell its Mexican and Brazilian poultry businesses to JBS for USD 575 million and use the proceeds to pay down debt from its pending USD 7 billion purchase of Hillshire Brands Co, pending 2018.