Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 10/14/11

Salisbury, Md.-based chicken company Perdue is eliminating about two dozen corporate jobs, amounting to about 3 percent of its current corporate staff, a company spokeswoman told Meatingplace.

“Today, Perdue announced the company is eliminating a limited number of positions at its corporate headquarters in Salisbury, Md. The decision is part of a larger cost-savings effort in response to continued high grain prices and persistently weak poultry markets,” said Perdue spokeswoman Julie DeYoung. "The layoffs are confined to corporate staffing and represent approximately 3 percent of the current corporate staff."

DeYoung dismissed rumors of any layoffs at Perdue plants. “Perdue processing facilities and poultry contracts are not affected,” she said.

“We take any decision affecting our associates seriously, but, unfortunately, we could not achieve our targeted overhead cost reductions without eliminating some positions," said DeYoung. Some people will be offered jobs in other parts of the company and others will receive severance packages and unemployment benefits.

“While this remains an extremely challenging time for everyone in the poultry industry, Perdue remains strong because of steps like those taken today to try to limit our losses.”

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