RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. – Golden Island Jerky, a gourmet jerky company, was recently purchased by Jack Link’s from Tyson Foods Inc.

The top jerky manufacturer in the US has decided to stop operations at Golden Island’s headquarters, which eliminated 371 jobs.

“The decision to sell the business was a very difficult one,” Tyson spokesperson Worth Sparkman said to MEAT+POULTRY. “It’s important to know it was based on a combination of factors including our ability to generate profitable growth in the business and our need to focus on, and invest in, strategic growth priorities where we are competitively advantaged.”

“We’ve encouraged all impacted team members to apply for available jobs at our other locations around the country if they are open to considering a move,” Sparkman said. “We thank each and every one of our team members for all their hard work and dedication. “

Jack Link's said in a statement that it was proud to add Golden Island to its family of brands. The company laid out details for former Golden Island employees to apply for jobs within Jack Link's existing facilities.

"We will be integrating Golden Island production into our Alpena, South Dakota production facility, the largest and most state of the art jerky facility in the world," Jack Link's spokeswoman Abbey Miller  said. "We anticipate hiring additional team members at our Alpena facility and all former Tyson employees from the Rancho Cucamonga, California plant are welcome to apply for positions at our South Dakota plant or any of our other three Midwest-based facilities."