Pilgrim's Pride Corp. has announced the elimination of approximately 230 corporate and administrative positions across the organization under the first phase of its integration with JBS USA, which acquired majority control of Pilgrim's Pride on 28 December 2009.

Approximately 160 of the primarily salaried and salaried non-exempt positions being eliminated are based at the company's headquarters in Pittsburg, Texas, or in nearby Mt. Pleasant, Texas. The remaining positions that are being eliminated are spread over nearly a dozen other sites, including Atlanta, Dallas and Broadway (Virginia). The company will provide severance benefits, including outplacement assistance, to affected salaried and salaried non-exempt employees. There is no direct impact on Pilgrim's Pride's operations or production, as none of the positions being eliminated are production-related.

In addition, the company said it is moving forward with plans to consolidate most corporate functions at JBS USA's headquarters in Greeley, Colorado. Both companies are continuing to evaluate the needs of their organizations and expect to finalise consolidation plans within the next three to six months.

Don Jackson, Pilgrim's Pride president and chief executive officer, said: "We know that these lay-offs will create pain and uncertainty for those employees whose jobs were eliminated today. Decisions like this are always very difficult because they affect the lives of employees who have contributed so much to our company over the years, including during our recent reorganisation. At the same time, these changes are absolutely necessary in order to realise the full benefits of our integration into JBS."

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