Tyson Foods is pledging to pay employees and rebuild a Holcomb, Kansas, plant after a fire partially destroyed the facility. In a news release, Tyson officials say they are still assessing the damage and say the plant will be shut down indefinitely but will be rebuilt at the same location. Employees were asked to report to work Monday for informational meetings and have told local reporters the plant is expected to be closed for six to eight weeks.
Roughly 1,200 employees at the facility Friday night were evacuated, and no injuries were reported. More than 3,500 employees work at the facility. Tyson says full-time, active team members at the facility will be paid weekly until production resumes.
Tyson Fresh Meats group president Steve Stouffer says Tyson has ?built in some redundancy to handle situations like these,? and will be using other plants to keep the supply chain full. Tyson Foods operates six plants in Kansas, employing more than 5,600 people, paying $268 million in wages in 2018.
