PITTSBURG, TEXAS — As part of its continued integration with JBS USA, Pilgrim's Pride Corporation said it plans to close its corporate headquarters building in East Texas and a satellite corporate office in Atlanta within approximately 60 days.

The closures will eliminate 158 jobs at the Pilgrim's Pride headquarters in Pittsburg, Texas, and cut 55 jobs at the satellite corporate offices in suburban Atlanta. Many employees at both sites have been offered positions at other company facilities. Most corporate functions are being consolidated at JBS USA's headquarters in Greeley, Colo.

Most of those whose jobs are being eliminated were notified during the past two weeks. Layoffs are expected to begin around June 14 and will affect salaried and non-salaried employees in all functional areas. The company said it will provide severance benefits, including outplacement assistance, to affected salaried and salaried non-exempt employees.

Company executives said they expect no impact on Pilgrim's Pride processing facilities or operations since none of the eliminated jobs are in production.

Don Jackson, Pilgrim's Pride president and chief executive officer, said company executives recognize closing both offices, particularly the headquarters facility in Pittsburg, will create pain and uncertainty for those employees who are being laid off, as well as the local community.

"Decisions like this are always very difficult because they impact the lives of employees who have given so much to Pilgrim's Pride over the years,” he added. “While we will continue to maintain a very large presence in East Texas through our production operations in Mt. Pleasant and a smaller administrative office in Pittsburg, most corporate functions will be relocated to JBS USA's headquarters by June. This consolidation is critical to our ability to realize the full benefits of our integration into JBS."

Pilgrim's Pride employs approximately 41,000 people and operates chicken processing plants and prepared-foods facilities in 12 states, Puerto Rico and Mexico.