Tyson Foods Inc. Drops Wilson

Springdale’s Tyson Foods Inc. is dropping the Thomas E. Wilson brand name, opting instead to use its own name on products from the beef and pork divisions it acquired last year.

The move comes after 12 months of research that showed 95 percent of consumers recognize the Tyson Foods brand.

Tyson purchased IBP on Sept. 28, but had been in negotiations to purchase the South Dakota company for nine months before it became official.

In a statement released Aug. 26, Tyson Foods said substantial majorities believe it’s appropriate for the company to put its name on beef and pork products due to the reputation it has for quality chicken parts.

Following the merger, Tyson controlled 27 percent of the beef market, 23 percent of the chicken market and 18 percent of the pork market.

Thomas E. Wilson products initially will be converted to clear-film packaging with no brand affiliation over the next six months.

Thomas E. Wilson was the founder of a meat empire in the early 20th century. One photograph titled “Titans of Industry” pictured him alongside Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie. IBP later acquired the interests of Wilson & Co., Thomas E. Wilson’s company.

Tyson Foods Chairman, President and CEO John Tyson said the company had test-marketed name-branded pork products in the mid-1990s but didn’t have the scale to launch the operation until the acquisition of IBP.

Tyson’s Wright and Weaver brands won’t be affected.

• Russia announced Aug. 23 it would be lifting its ban on imported poultry from the United States, which sent shares of Tyson Foods Inc. soaring 13 percent to $12.02 during the day.

The Springdale company had seen a rapid decline since Russia’s proposed second ban of the year.

Tyson Foods’ shares reached a three-month high of $15.71 June 18, but had dropped as low as $10.03 on Aug. 16 before recovering in late August.

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