Tyson Foods acquires former Cargill turkey plant in Springdale, Arkansas
The acquisition comes alongside a proposed US$82.5 million settlement in a beef price-fixing lawsuit.
USA – Tyson Foods Inc. has purchased the former Cargill turkey processing plant in Washington County, Arkansas, which ceased operations in August 2025.
County land records indicate the deed for the property valued the sale at US$23 million.
During a November 17, 2025, city council meeting in Springdale, Tyson’s poultry president Nathan McKay outlined the company’s intentions for the building.
McKay stated that Tyson does not plan to slaughter birds at the site in the near future but will focus on processing and portioning chicken products.
He explained that the company has similar operations at other local facilities and will adapt the former turkey plant for these purposes.
McKay also said that Tyson intends to invest in the facility over the next three years, with equipment adjustments required to shift from turkey to chicken processing.
A city meeting agenda from November suggested the investment in the plant could range between US$90 million and US$130 million.
Initially, Tyson expects to employ only a small number of workers for renovation and maintenance, but by the second year, staffing could increase to between 100 and 200 employees.
McKay added that over time, Tyson may consolidate operations from other facilities into the Springdale plant.
Cargill previously reported that the building covers approximately 360,000 square feet.
The acquisition follows reports that Tyson reached a proposed US$82.5 million settlement to resolve a class-action lawsuit filed by grocery chains and food distributors accusing the company of artificially inflating beef prices.
The settlement, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota on Wednesday, awaits judicial approval after finalization of terms with plaintiffs.
Affected parties include direct purchasers such as Pennsylvania-based Redner’s Markets and Mississippi-based R&D Marketing, who claim Tyson and other major beef producers conspired to keep prices high from 2015 to 2022.
Legal representatives estimate that thousands of businesses could qualify as members of the proposed class impacted by the alleged price-fixing.
Tyson’s agreement follows JBS USA’s US$52.5 million settlement with direct purchasers in 2022, which the company resolved without admitting wrongdoing.
Cargill and National Beef, the remaining defendants in the lawsuit, have not disclosed any public statements regarding the litigation or possible settlements.
Separately, Tyson previously addressed consumer claims in the same case for US$55 million, settling allegations from individual beef buyers.
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