Manufacturing

Tyson Foods in recent years sees rapid turnover at top job

It’s proven to be a tough job to hold as of late. The Tyson Foods chief executive officer role has turned over four times in seven years since Donnie Smith…

State of the State Mid-Year 2023: Arkansas’ steel industry to bolster overall manufacturing sector

Editor’s note: The State of the State series provides reports twice a year on Arkansas’ key economic sectors. The series publishes stories to begin a year and stories in July/August…

Reports: Tyson Foods considers selling China operations

Less than two weeks after committing to expanding its international presence after two big consecutive quarterly losses, Tyson Foods is reportedly exploring the sale of its business in China. Reuters…

Walmart’s 10th annual ‘Open Call’ event slated for October

Registration for the 10th annual Open Call by Walmart is open for the virtual and in-person event slated for Oct. 24-25 in coordination with U.S. manufacturing month. Walmart took Open…

Tyson Foods continues investments in international markets

Tyson Foods has struggled in recent quarters with its U.S. business and likely will struggle in future quarters. Still, the company is not backing away from investments and growth plans…

Westrock Coffee posts $26.8M loss, closes stock equity raise at $118.8M

Westrock Coffee Co. reported a second quarter loss of $26.8 million, more than four times a year ago, as the company ramps up for a major growth period that has…

Around 2,800 jobs to be cut as Tyson Foods closes chicken plants

Tyson Foods announced Monday (Aug. 7) plans to close four chicken processing plants in North Little Rock, Noel and Dexter, Mo., and Corydon, Ind., over the next three quarters. The…

Arkansas Northeastern College lands $1.2 million for steelmaking bootcamp

A $1.2 million grant from the Arkansas Office of Skills Development (OSD) to Arkansas Northeastern College (ANC) will help create the Arkansas Steelmaking Bootcamp. The bootcamp, a job skills initiative…

Tyson Foods posts ugly $417 million net income loss in third fiscal quarter

Tyson Foods on Monday (Aug. 7) reported a quarterly net income loss of $417 million, a wide swing from net income of $720 million in the year-ago quarter. The company…

Tyson Foods’ third-quarter net income expected to drop 86%

It’s another down cycle for Tyson Foods. The Springdale-based meat giant is expected Aug. 7 to report a third fiscal quarter net income of $95.3 million, well below the consensus…

Hybar breaks ground on $700 million rebar mill in Osceola

A newly formed company, Hybar, has started construction on its scrap metal recycling steel rebar mill project. The mill is being built on a 1,300-acre site in Osceola. The $700…

HanesBrands to close Clarksville hosiery plant at end of September

HanesBrands has confirmed it is closing its hosiery production plant in Clarksville at the end of September. The move shutters a plant that once employed at least 570 in the…

Manufacturing sector’s decline continues for 9th month, but at a slower pace in July

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector declined for the ninth consecutive month, according to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). However, the rate of decline moderated slightly in July. The…

Arkansas native named CEO of AMMO, Inc.

AMMO, Inc., the owner of GunBroker.com, the largest online marketplace serving the firearms and shooting sports industries, and a leading vertically integrated producer of high-performance ammunition and components, announced Wednesday…

Arkansas Teacher Retirement System invests $25 million in Westrock Coffee

Little Rock-based Westrock Coffee Company announced Tuesday (July 18) a $25 million equity investment from the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System (ARTRS). The deal provides the retirement system 2.5 million in…

Glass recycling partners join forces

EPIC Glass Recycling is partnering with ACE Glass and Plastics Recycling which is ramping up plans to build a glass recycling plant in North Little Rock just east of I-440….

Manufacturing activity declines for 8th straight month

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted faster in June as optimism fades about the second half of 2023, according to the Institute for Supply Management (ISM). June was the…

Westrock Coffee to add 600 new jobs with $300 million investment in Conway

Westrock Coffee is investing $300 million to expand its development, production, and distribution facility in Conway, creating 600 jobs over five years that will pay average annual salaries of about…

Work continues on new Owens Corning plant; could open later this year

Owens Corning on June 13 received its fourth building permit in the past two years at its new facility at 5401 Excelsior Drive. The recent permit issued by the city…

Arkansas District Export Council opens applications for global trade awards

The Arkansas District Export Council (ARDEC) has opened its application process for international businesses with operations in Arkansas to be recognized for their achievements. The 13th annual Governor’s Awards for…

Oklahoma court ruling threatens poultry industry in Arkansas

GDP up 4.3% in the third quarter, consumer confidence declines

St. Bernards to expand Maternal Life360 HOME program into Greene County

Then and Now: Cooperative business model a good fit for Mitchell Johnson