Tyson to close Hillshire Brands plant in Georgia

Food Dive reported the development on 2026-04-07. The meatpacker said recent changes “have made continued operations at the site no longer viable.”.

The report places the news in a wider commercial context. Tyson Foods is closing a Hillshire Brands plant in Rome, Georgia, and laying off 168 workers after "recent changes have made continued operations at the site no longer viable," according to a statement. The facility will cease operations May 31, according to a WARN notice filed with the state. Tyson is encouraging affected workers to apply for other positions in the company.

For the food sector, the practical implications extend beyond the immediate announcement. The plant manufactured Nature Valley Granola bars for General Mills on a contract basis, according to local news reports. Tyson added in a statement the facility has "operated under a unique single-customer model," but did not provide more specifics. The closure comes as Tyson consolidates its manufacturing network to focus on production efficiency and cost savings.

Attention now turns to how companies, customers and regulators respond. The Rome plant was included in Tyson's $8.5 billion acquisition of Hillshire Brands in 2014, and local news reports say the facility had a long history manufacturing baked goods under other major food producers, including Sara Lee. The facility transitioned to granola bar production in the early 2000s, the Coosa Valley News said.