Tyson Foods to close a food plant in Georgia

Springdale-based Tyson Foods will close a small prepared foods plant in Rome, Ga. The plant makes Nature Valley Granola Bars and is part of the meat giant’s 2014 acquisition of Hillshire Brands, formerly the Sara Lee Corporation.

Roughly 86 employees will be impacted by the plant’s closure, slated for September. Tyson said it is working to assist employees during the transition, including encouraging them to apply for other roles within the company.

“We recognize the impact this has on our team members and the Rome community,” Tyson said in a statement. “Supporting our people is our top priority, and we are working with state and local partners to provide support during this transition.”

The company said the facility operated to make products for one customer, but recent changes have made operations at the store no longer viable. Talk Business & Politics reached out to General Mills for comment on changes to the brand or its manufacturer selection. The company has not yet responded.

This closure follows Tyson’s sale of its poultry plant and complex in Vienna, Ga., in July 2024 to the House of Raeford Farms as the company streamlined its poultry operations, shifting production from the older plant into newer facilities in Tennessee and Virginia.