Springdale, Ark. – March 27, 2015 – As part of ongoing efforts to increase efficiencies of its poultry business in Georgia, Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN) plans to discontinue operations at its Buena Vista, Georgia, poultry plant at the end of May. In addition, the company will no longer run a third shift at its Dawson, Georgia, location as of April 10.

These decisions will affect approximately 190 people who work at the Buena Vista location and about 70 people at the Dawson location. The planned Buena Vista closure is due to a combination of factors including changing product needs, the age of the facility and the prohibitive cost of its renovation.

“Because these changes affect our team members and their families, it was a very tough decision,” said Noel White, president of Poultry for Tyson Foods. “Our business needs have changed in southern Georgia, so after a great deal of consideration, we’ve decided to take these steps in order to best serve our customers.”

In January, the company announced that it is making a significant investment in its Vienna, Georgia, location and changing the focus of its production. The expansion project in Vienna will add more than 700 jobs when it’s completed mid-year.

Tyson Foods intends to work with state officials to ensure affected employees are informed about unemployment benefits and any potential re-training opportunities.

About Tyson Foods
Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN), with headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas, is one of the world's largest producers of chicken, beef, pork and prepared foods that include leading brands such as Tyson®, Jimmy Dean®, Hillshire Farm®, Sara Lee® frozen bakery, Ball Park®, Wright®, Aidells® and State Fair®. The company was founded in 1935 by John W. Tyson, whose family has continued to lead the business with his son, Don Tyson, guiding the company for many years and grandson, John H. Tyson, serving as the current chairman of the board of directors. Tyson Foods provides a wide variety of protein-based and prepared foods products and is the recognized market leader in the retail and foodservice markets it serves, supplying customers throughout the United States and approximately 130 countries. It has approximately 124,000 Team Members employed at more   than 400 facilities and offices in the United States and around the world. Through its Core Values, Code of Conduct and Team Member Bill of Rights, Tyson Foods strives to operate with integrity and trust and is committed to creating value for its shareholders, customers and Team Members. The company also strives to be faith-friendly, provide a safe work environment and serve as stewards of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it.

Media Contact: Worth Sparkman, Tyson Foods
worth.sparkman@tyson.com, 479-290-6358