Temporary Halt in Production at House of Raeford’s Nesmith Facility

Maintenance Issues Lead to Production Suspension

House of Raeford Farms has announced a temporary suspension of ready-to-cook chicken production at its facility in Nesmith, South Carolina. The decision was made following maintenance challenges that required immediate attention.

Details on the Maintenance Challenges

According to company spokesperson Dave Witter, the issues arose in mid-November and involved both construction-related work and necessary equipment repairs. The operational pause began on November 17.

Impact on Employees

Due to uncertainties regarding the duration of the repairs, House of Raeford took proactive measures by notifying the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce and implementing temporary furloughs for 216 employees associated with the affected production line.

Continued Operations

While the ready-to-cook production line remains halted, other operations within the facility are ongoing. Notably, the production of mechanically separated chicken—a key output for the Nesmith site, commonly referred to as the “Hemingway Plant”—has continued throughout this maintenance period.

Outlook for the Future

Witter reassured that the operational disruption is expected to be short-term. The company anticipates that the ready-to-cook production line will resume as early as next week, and furloughed employees will be welcomed back once the necessary repairs have been completed.

Company’s Broader Operations Unaffected

House of Raeford confirmed that this situation is isolated to the Nesmith location and does not impact its other facilities. The company remains committed to ensuring a swift resolution to these maintenance issues to minimize effects on their workforce and production capabilities.