Cargill will close its Springdale, Arkansas, turkey processing plant on Aug. 1, affecting 1,100 workers. Production will be shifted to facilities in Missouri and Virginia as part of broader cost-cutting measures.
Agribusiness company Cargill announced it will shut down its turkey processing plant in Springdale, Arkansas, on Aug. 1, displacing 1,100 employees. The move is part of the company’s strategy to streamline operations amid declining earnings in its meat and grain and oilseed businesses.
"It is the right move to make for the future of our turkey business. Turkey remains an essential part of Cargill's protein portfolio," the company stated to Reuters. Production will be relocated to Cargill’s plants in Missouri and Virginia.
The Springdale facility processes fresh and frozen whole turkeys, bone-in turkey breasts, and case-ready turkey products. The company assured that it will honor contractual agreements with turkey growers and continue operations at over 40 protein facilities in the U.S. and Canada.
The closure reflects a broader trend of downsizing in the poultry sector. Perdue Farms is set to close a Tennessee facility in March, cutting 433 jobs, while Tyson Foods has shuttered six chicken plants since 2023.