Record Year in FY2015 For Tyson Foods Inc.

Despite less than ideal conditions, fiscal 2015 was a record year for Tyson Foods Inc. of Springdale.

The country’s largest meat processor had total sales of $41.37 billion for the 12-month period that ended Oct. 3, up 10.1 percent over fiscal 2014 sales of $37.58 billion.

The company’s adjusted operating income in fiscal 2015 was $2.25 billion, up 37 percent from $1.64 billion in fiscal 2014.

The record year was underscored by Tyson Foods’ acquisition of Hillshire Brands in 2014, and came despite a West Coast port slowdown that disrupted beef and pork exports, an outbreak of avian influenza that limited poultry exports and a decline in live cattle futures.

In terms of adjusted operating income, the company’s chicken business segment recorded $1.34 billion, prepared foods generated $636 million and the pork business had $373 million. Beef had a loss of $53 million.

“Fiscal 2015 was an important year for Tyson Foods, because it proved that our house of brands gives us the ability to produce record sales and earnings in less than optimum conditions, all while successfully merging two large companies,” Donnie Smith, president and CEO, said in a news release accompanying the Nov. 23 earnings report. “We’re expecting another record year in fiscal 2016. The team has been performing at a high level since the merger, but I still see so much potential as the power of Tyson 2.0 is just beginning to emerge.”