Southeast Poultry Industry Sees Major Expansion with Pilgrim’s Facility and Harrison Poultry Acquisition
DepositPhotos image
The poultry industry in the Southeast is undergoing significant changes as two major announcements signal expansion and consolidation across Georgia’s poultry sector. These developments promise job creation, enhanced production capacity, and long-term investments in the region’s agricultural economy.
Pilgrim’s has unveiled plans to build a new prepared foods facility in Walker County, Georgia, representing a $400 million investment that will create 630 new jobs at full capacity. According to the company’s press release, the multi-phase facility:
“Will produce a variety of fully cooked chicken products to support the growth of its fast-growing prepared foods business.”
The facility is expected to break ground in 2025, with hiring beginning in 2027 upon completion of the first construction phase. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp praised the project:
“Georgia’s No. 1 industry of agriculture continues to drive growth with companies like Pilgrim’s creating quality jobs in communities like LaFayette. As our state’s economy continues to advance, we are excited to see these continued innovations and the opportunities they will bring for hardworking Georgians.”
This expansion strengthens Georgia’s position as a national leader in poultry production and showcases the state’s support for agribusiness innovation.
Meanwhile, another major development comes with the announcement that Wayne-Sanderson Farms has acquired Harrison Poultry, a Georgia-based poultry producer known for its proprietary “Golden Goodness” products. The acquisition includes all Harrison Poultry assets, such as hatchery operations, live production, feed mills, manufacturing, and transportation.
The Bethlehem and Crawfordville operations will now be integrated into Wayne-Sanderson Farms. Company CEO Kevin McDaniel stated:
“We are proud to welcome the Harrison Poultry team into the Wayne-Sanderson Farms family. We are well matched. Wayne-Sanderson Farms is known for quality people, quality farm partners and quality products, and so is Harrison Poultry. We expect the transition to be practically seamless.”
Jim Skidmore, President and CEO of Harrison Poultry, added:
“Our primary focus with this transaction from the start has been making sure this was right for our people, our farmers, and our customers.”
These developments represent a major shift in the Southeast poultry industry, emphasizing innovation, growth, and continued investment in Georgia’s agricultural sector.
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet.