Source:  Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 10/1/09

Tyson Foods officials on Monday will consider approval of an expansion at the company's Wilkesboro, N.C., poultry complex, the Wilkes Journal Patriot reported.

The expansion would add as many as 300 new jobs and include a 16,000-square-foot addition, the report said, quoting Wilkesboro Complex Manager Mark Welborn.

Currently, the plant's production capacity is 1.65 million birds in a five-day week. Welborn is quoted as saying Tyson aims to up five-day capacity to 1.9 million birds.

"To do that, we'll need more equipment, more people and more growers," he said. "If all the projections are accurate, we should have that in place in eight to 10 months."

Welborn reportedly said demand for chicken has increased among all Tyson customers. However, nearly 50 percent of the chicken processed at the Wilkesboro plant will be marketed by Salisbury, N.C.-based supermarket chain Food Lion under the Holly Farms brand.

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