OSI Food Solutions continues to expand, as evidenced by the recent purchase of a Chicago area Tyson manufacturing facility. According to Cook County Records, the Tyson Foods plant was bought for $7.4 million. While the money may help Tyson restructure its organization, the sale of the plant may have done more for the people and economy of Chicago.
Before news of the deal was made public, Tyson Foods had reported that they would be forced to close the plant. The shutdown would have meant putting 480 people out of work and the organization was already beginning to trim its belt. At the time OSI Food Solutions took possession of the plant, there were still 250 employees on staff. Instead of letting them go, OSI stated that each person would be offered a job.
The former Tyson plant is near another OSI facility, which is what drew the company’s interest. The new acquisition will be used to support the existing plant and help promote future growth. In a statement, Kevin Scott, who is the senior executive V.P. for OSI North America, said the company’s customer base is continuing to evolve. As such, the new plant will help meet increased demands more efficiently.
OSI Food Solutions Boosts Chicken Manufacturing
Elsewhere, OSI is amping up chicken processing to meet higher demands. In Toledo, Spain, the corporation installed a high capacity production line, costing over €17 million, so chicken products could be processed faster. The improvement will double the 12,000 tons of chicken previously processed at the plant each year.
The upgrade will bring the total production of meat products, consisting of pork and beef, as well as chicken, up to an annual total of 45,000 tons. Additionally, the new line has created 20 jobs, bringing the workforce for that one plant up to 160 people.
José María del Río, who serves as the OSI Spain managing director, revealed that chicken demand is up in Spain and in Portugal. As a result, the company needs to increase production to meet that higher demand. Over the last ten years, there’s been an average increase of 6% in the demand for chicken products. In the last three years, that ratio has risen by 8% for the region.
As OSI Food Solutions grows to meet increased customer demands, their facilities may see even further upgrades to existing production technology. The higher demand may be the result of people looking for healthier eating options or it may just be a response to a growing population. In any case, OSI is eager to meet the needs of its global customer base.
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