Pilgrim’s is investing about $75 million to expand and modernize its Ellijay, Georgia, poultry facility, increasing harvesting and portioning capacity to produce a broader mix of higher‑value, boneless chicken products – including those used in chicken sandwiches, tenders and other fast‑growing categories.
The company also announced it will close the aging harvesting portion of its Chattanooga, Tennessee, operations but will continue to use Chattanooga’s deboning infrastructure to support Ellijay’s expanded output.
“As consumer demand shifts and our customers grow, we are investing to ensure our operations are positioned for the future,” said Fabio Sandri, CEO of Pilgrim’s.
“Ellijay is a strong‑performing facility with a talented team, and this expansion will allow us to optimize our portfolio, improve efficiency, and continue delivering high‑quality products to our customers.”
The Chattanooga harvesting closure affects 348 employees. Pilgrim’s is offering transfers to other locations, application support for open roles across the U.S., on‑site transition resources, and continued engagement with local workforce partners.
“We are grateful for the dedication of our impacted Chattanooga team members and are committed to helping them through this transition with care, respect and as many opportunities as possible,” Sandri said. “These decisions are among the most difficult we make because they affect people who have contributed so much to our success.”
Pilgrim’s said there will be no impact on the grower base in the region, and the company will maintain service and quality levels for all customers, including those purchasing bone‑in products, through its broader network of facilities.
About Pilgrim’s Pride
Pilgrim’s employs about 63,000 people and operates protein processing plants and prepared‑foods facilities in 14 states, Puerto Rico, Mexico, the U.K., the Republic of Ireland, and continental Europe. Primary distribution is through retailers and foodservice distributors.