Tyson Foods Reports Record 4Q, Fiscal Year Sales

In the wake of the largest acquisition in the history of the meat industry, Tyson Foods Inc. of Springdale announced record-breaking results Monday when it released its earnings report from the fourth quarter.

Tyson reported a record $10.1 billion in fourth quarter revenue, a 14 percent increase over revenue in the same period a year ago.

Tyson’s fourth quarter and fiscal year ended Sept. 27, 2014. The company also reported record sales of $37.6 billion for the fiscal year, up 9 percent from FY2013.

“Two years ago, I told our team members, ‘The turnaround is over; it’s time to turn it on.’ They did and the proof is in our second year in a row of record sales and earnings,” Donnie Smith , president and chief executive officer, said in a news release. “This is an exciting time as we integrate Hillshire Brands and Tyson Foods, and I believe that when we look back on this merger years from now, we’ll see it as a watershed event. We’re setting higher expectations and anticipating more growth and increased profitability, specifically in the chicken and prepared Foods segments.”

Tyson Foods formally struck a deal in early July to buy Hillshire Brands Co. for $8.5 billion after winning a bidding war against Pilgrim’s Pride.

The deal was completed Aug. 28.