COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina Tyson Prepared Foods plant will be closing it’s door in August, leaving more than 100 people unemployed.
The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce announced the closure in Columbia, leaving 146 people out of work, news outlets reported.
Tyson spokesperson Worth Sparkman said the company decided to move the production plant to a different location. Details on the new location weren’t immediately released.
Sparkman said the plant processed pork for taco filling and pizza toppings.
“After much consideration and as part of ongoing efforts to increase efficiency in our business, we plan to discontinue operations at our Columbia, S.C., plant in mid-August,” Sparkman said.
The company said the ongoing coronavirus pandemic didn’t influence the decision to close the plant.
South Carolina has experienced high unemployment during the pandemic. Overall in the past 12 weeks, the total number of unemployment initial claims has risen to 582,265, according to state employment department, cited by news outlets.