Tyson Foods to Build New Plant in Virginia

Tyson Foods is spending $300 million to build a new fully cooked plant in Danville, Va., as a part of its commitment to meet increasing demand and deliver on its strategy of accelerating long-term growth. The 325,000-sq-ft, state-of-the-art facility will be used primarily to produce premium-quality, fully cooked Tyson branded chicken products, including Any’tizer Snacks and Chicken Nuggets. The company has committed to purchase 60 million lb of Virginia-grown chicken over the next three years.

The facility will be built in Cane Creek Centre, an industrial park jointly owned by the City of Danville and Pittsylvania County. It is expected to create nearly 400 jobs when production begins in the spring of 2023.

Pandemic-Driven Changes in Food and Beverage Plant Design

“As consumers actively look to add more protein to their diets, Tyson is uniquely positioned as a category leader to meet that growing demand,” says Noelle O’Mara, president, prepared foods for Tyson Foods. “Our continued focus on consumer-driven innovation will accelerate this momentum, and our investment in Danville-Pittsylvania County will help drive the long-term growth of the iconic Tyson brand.”

“Our company has been successfully working in the Commonwealth of Virginia for decades,” adds David Bray, group president of poultry for Tyson Foods. “We’re thankful for the invitation to become a part of the Danville and Pittsylvania County communities, the support from both state and local leaders, and the presence of such a strong workforce in the region.”

The company employs more than 2,000 people across Virginia with an annual payroll of more than $76 million. Tyson Foods paid Virginia poultry growers more than $37 million in its 2020 fiscal year and estimates its total statewide impact to be $154 million. The company has processing operations in Glen Allen and Temperanceville.