Pilgrim's Pride to close plants in Georgia and Alabama

ATHENS - Pilgrim's Pride Corp. says it will idle chicken processing plants in Georgia and Alabama that employ almost 1,000 people total.

The Texas-based company said Friday it will close a plant in Athens, Ala., within 75 days. That facility employs 640 people.

It also plans to idle one of its two plants in Athens, Ga., that employs about 330 people.

Pilgrim's Pride said it expects to offer jobs to many of the displaced workers at other locations. But it will shut down the two plants and shift their production work elsewhere to reduce costs. The company said it will not reduce overall production or change its product mix.

Pilgrim's Pride filed for bankruptcy reorganization in December.