Springdale, Ark. (August 23, 2017) — Tyson Foods on Wednesday officially opened its Incubation Technology Center, located at the corner of East Huntsville Avenue and North Monitor Road in east Springdale. The 75,000-square-foot center, which has been under construction for about a year, will supply chicks for its northwest Arkansas broiler chicken and Cornish hen operations.
“This state-of-the-art incubation center allows us to centralize some of our operations so we can be more efficient,” said Doug Ramsey, group president of poultry. “It was built with the best technology available and with the highest level of biosecurity in mind, which is best for the overall health of the birds being hatched here.”
Earlier this year, Tyson Foods announced it was moving to No Antibiotics Ever (NAE) in its Tyson branded retail chicken products, making it the world’s largest producer of NAE. Because the environment where chickens are hatched helps promote the health of birds, the company has built the facility with the latest advances in biosecurity, including the use of high-tech ventilation and internal environmental controls to continually circulate fresh air throughout the building.
Robotics have been installed to assist with worker safety and improved ergonomics. Six robotic arms will perform repetitive tasks that can lead to strain and muscle fatigue in workers.
The Incubation Technology Center will replace the company’s hatchery in Lincoln, Arkansas and the hatchery on Randall Wobbe Road in Springdale. About 35 people will be employed at the new center.
“The site of this center is just down the road from the original Tyson Foods headquarters building,” Ramsey said. “We’re proud of our heritage and to still be a part of Springdale. We’d like to thank the Chamber of Commerce and Mayor Doug Sprouse for all their support and assistance.”
Tyson Foods operates facilities in 20 Arkansas communities, employing about 23,500 in the state with an annual payroll of nearly $1.4 billion. Tyson Foods paid Arkansas poultry growers more than $261 million in its 2016 fiscal year and estimates its total statewide annual impact to be $1.96 billion.
About Tyson Foods, Inc.
Tyson Foods Inc. (NYSE: TSN) is one of the world’s largest food companies and a recognized leader in protein. Founded in 1935 by John W. Tyson and grown under three generations of family leadership, the company has a broad portfolio of products and brands like Tyson®, Jimmy Dean®, Hillshire Farm®, Ball Park®, Wright®, Aidells®, ibp® and State Fair®. Tyson Foods innovates continually to make protein more sustainable, tailor food for everywhere it’s available and raise the world’s expectations for how much good food can do. Headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, the company has 114,000 team members. Through its Core Values, Tyson Foods strives to operate with integrity, create value for its shareholders, customers, communities and team members and serve as stewards of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it. Visit www.tysonfoods.com.