EMPORIA, KAN. —  A Worker Adjustment Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notice posted by the Kansas Department of Commerce said on Dec. 2 that Tyson Foods Inc. expects to lay off 809 employees at its beef plant in Emporia, Kan.

The Emporia Gazette reported that Tyson announced in a letter sent to facility employees that it would cease all operations on Feb. 14, 2025. The report said that Tyson officials told city officials that all Emporia operations would move to its Holcomb, Kan., beef facility.

Tyson Foods took over the operation of this Emporia plant in 2001 after buying Iowa Beef Packers (IBP).

“After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to close our beef and pork non-harvest processing facility in Emporia, Kansas, to increase the efficiency of our operations,” a Tyson Foods spokesperson told MEAT+POULTRY. “We understand the impact of this decision on our team members and the local community. Taking care of our team members is our top priority and we encourage them to apply for other open roles within the company. We are also working closely with state and local officials to provide additional resources to those who are impacted.”

Tyson Foods added that it employs more than 5,000 people across other Kansas facilities.

A joint statement was also released by the City of Emporia, along with Lyon County, the Regional Development Association, Emporia Main Street, Emporia Chamber of Commerce, Flint Hills Technical College and Emporia State University about its response to the news.

"Our thoughts are with the employees and families affected by this transition," the statement said. "Tyson has been a valuable corporate partner over the years, and we are grateful for their contributions to our community. Our collective priority is to support impacted workers. We are collaborating with local organizations, state agencies, and workforce development partners to provide resources, job placement assistance, and training opportunities. While we recognize the challenges this closure presents, Emporia’s economy remains stable  and resilient. Community leaders will continue to work with key stakeholders at the local, state, and federal level to promote economic growth in Emporia. By working closely with business leaders and stakeholders, we aim to attract and retain strong and diversified industry that will provide growth and prosperity for our residents." 

Over the last few years, Tyson Foods has closed several plants in the United States.

In March 2024, Tyson Foods shut down a pork plant in Perry, Iowa. The closure of poultry processing facilities in Van Buren, Ark., and Glen Allen, Va., were confirmed in March 2023. The company announced an additional four plant closures five months later in North Little Rock, Ark.; Corydon, Ind.; Dexter, Mo.; and Noel, Mo.

Then, in October 2023, Tyson confirmed a report of a mass layoff taking place at its Wilkesboro, NC, poultry processing plant.