Tyson Foods plans to close NC facility

Tyson Foods Inc. plans to close its Wilkesboro NC plant and terminate more than 400 jobs as it focuses on ready-to-eat products instead of refrigerated foods. Operations at the plant — one of three Tyson operates in Wilkesboro — are expected to stop April 1. No decision has been made about future use of the facility.

According to the Springdale AR-based meat producer, growing popularity of ready-to-eat products such as rotisserie chicken has spurred a drop in consumer demand for its refrigerated, oven-roasted chicken products. Tyson has therefore opted to shift its operations away from such products.