AUSTIN, MINN. – Hormel Foods Corp. subsidiary Dan’s Prize LLC announced on June 7 that it started to tell its 197 temporarily furloughed employees that they are expected to be back at work in the next three weeks.

The meat producer has around 530 employees at its two facilities, in Long Prairie, Minn., and Browerville, Minn.

“As the foodservice industry begins to recover, we are welcoming all of our team members back to Dan’s Prize,” said Jeff Tobak, president of Dan’s Prize. “A large portion of our team has returned and expect others to be back in the next several days.”

The initial Dan’s Prize furlough began on May 4. The company said workers received company health benefits for the duration of the furlough.  

“We have a great group of inspired people and it has been very difficult for all of us to have some of our team members temporarily away from work,” Tobak said. “We are especially proud of the fact that the length of the furlough was short and that we can provide some certainty in at least one area to our team members.”

Dan’s Prize was founded in 1986. The company’s product portfolio includes sliced and whole muscle products including beef, pastrami, ham, turkey and other items.