House of Raeford closes turkey plant to focus on chicken

US poultry processor, House of Raeford will phase out all operations at its Raeford, NC turkey cook plant within the next 60 days to focus on chicken products.

Historically high protein commodity market values have driven raw material costs for cooked turkey products up over 250% in the last twelve months, resulting in unprecedented finished product prices that the company’s customers are not able to absorb for competitive reasons, the company offered in a statement.

Production of further processed and fully cooked chicken products now being made in Raeford will be moved to other plants. This move will allow the company to focus more resources on vertically integrated production of fresh, ready-to-cook, further processed and fully cooked chicken products.

The company embarked on a strategy to grow its chicken production volume and further processed chicken product lines over a year ago.

“We’re experiencing significant growth in chicken production and further processing,” said Bob Johnson, President and CEO. “We believe vertically-integrated chicken production is our core competency and deserves 100% of our attention and resources.”

Since announcing this strategy in March of 2013, House of Raeford has expanded its chicken further processing operations by purchasing two plants.

The first plant, located in Mocksville, NC, opened in April of 2014 and produces fully-cooked chicken products with plans to eventually employ 400 people. The second plant came with the acquisition of Atlanta-based Filet of Chicken, a company that produces par-fried and IQF further processed products and employs 450.

The Raeford, NC plant currently employs about 400 associates. Notices were distributed to plant associates alerting them of the pending closure. The company will provide financial assistance for all associates affected by the plant closure who meet the minimum tenure requirement by providing severance packages. The company will also work with local and state officials in an early intervention plan that provides transitional help for these workers.

“We are grateful to the employees who have worked in our Raeford, NC operation for their loyalty and dedication. We are committed to helping each of them during this transition,” said Johnson.

This decision will not affect the remaining 5,300 House of Raeford associates, of which approximately 1,800 are employed in North Carolina.