Source:  Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 8/28/09

Salisbury, Md.-based Perdue Farms announced it will close its hatcheries in Showell and Bishopville, Md., in early May of 2010.

At the same time, Perdue plans to invest $3.7 million to expand production at one hatchery on the Delmarva peninsula and another one in Kenly, N.C. The investment will increase hatch production by 40 percent at one of its Salisbury hatcheries and nearly double hatch production in Kenly, the company said in a news release.

Perdue will invest in new equipment and ventilations systems to accommodate the increased production in Kenly, while existing equipment from Showell and Bishopville will be installed at the Salisbury hatchery to handle the increased hatch production there.

The closures will eliminate 36 positions in Showell and Bishop, while the expansions create five new positions in Salisbury and Kenly. Affected associates were informed last Friday.

"The Showell and Bishopville facilities are outdated and require significant investment in facility maintenance and equipment to continue operating," said Mike Roberts, president of the Food Products Group. "While these changes will not go into effect until early next year, we are letting our associates know now so they can take advantage of openings at other Perdue facilities should they be interested. Perdue is committed to assisting our Showell and Bishopville associates through this transition."

Privately held Perdue employs 21,000 associates and partners with 2,253 independent farm families.

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