Tyson Standing Strong

Reuters reported Oct. 19 that Tyson Foods Inc. has felt little sales impact from the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, although the Springdale company’s CEO John Tyson told the publication the Northeast and south Florida have had some weakness.

Tyson also said the integration of the beef and pork businesses it acquired with IBP Inc. in September, creating the world’s largest meat company, is going well. A decision on which companies to divest, if any, may be made within two or three months, he said.

Consumers may be eating out less since the attacks, particularly at more expensive restaurants, but as food service sales decline, retail sales to groceries increase, leaving little impact overall, Tyson said.

“In the Northeast, by the nature of where the event happened, business is off there,” Tyson told Reuters at a food conference in Chicago. “You can go to the south Florida market, by nature of that being a large tourist destination for cruise ships and other activities, and that is down.”

However, in the Midwest and some other regions, business is equal to or a little better than last year, he added.

Tyson is integrating three separate companies in bringing Tyson and IBP together, because IBP unit Foodbrands America Inc. was formerly 16 independently owned and operated companies, he said.