Chicago is losing another major employer with Tyson’s departure
Following in the footsteps of hedge fund Citadel and Boeing Inc., America’s leading beef company is planning to relocate its white-collar employees out of the Chicago area.
Tyson Foods Inc. announced Monday in a statement that it is relocating its corporate offices to its historic location in Springdale, Arkansas.
This would result in the relocation of around 1,000 people, including workers from both the city of Chicago and the suburb of Downers Grove, as well as those from the town of Dakota Dunes in South Dakota.
With growing violence, high-profile business departures, and fewer downtown workers in the post-pandemic era, the move comes at a difficult time for Chicago.
A spokeswoman for Tyson indicated that Chicago will receive almost half of the relocated jobs. He also stressed that neither crime nor tax rates played a role in the company’s final choice to relocate.
“While we are disappointed to learn of this decision, we expect that the company will continue to access businesses in our food and agriculture ecosystem, as well as route vital supplies and product through the region’s vast transportation network,” said Michael Fassnacht, the city’s chief marketing officer.
Ken Griffin, the wealthiest man in Illinois, said earlier this year that he was relocating his Citadel hedge fund to Miami.
Caterpillar Inc. announced it will relocate its headquarters from the Chicago suburb of Deerfield to Texas, and Boeing Co. announced it would relocate its headquarters elsewhere.