Meat + Poultry - September 2010 - 31

TYSON FOODS

TREIF
T tFlI has
the
the answers
ans
gnu are
you
you
are
looking
for.
looking for.
TWISTER mat
Fully automatic
loading for dicing,
shredding and
strip cutting

mi ,
o ,e t
PUMA EB

Tyson's product-development people can take a chance on an idea and know if it doesn't
work, they're not going to get reprimanded for a failure. (Photo courtesy of Tyson Foods)

Supply-side speculation
Smith doesn't see a dramatic increase
coming in the domestic availability of
the major proteins. "If retail remains
somewhat stable and foodservice stabilizes, I think there's plenty of room to
absorb the available meat that will be
on the market without having an ugly
pricing scenario," he said.
"Most people forget you don't have
an instantaneous response to change
in protein supplies," Lochner added.
"You have a lag in production."
In discussing newer competitors like
JBS S.A., Smith said, "We're aware
of our competitors, but our primary
focus is how to grow our customers'
business; how to add value to their
business because that's how we're going to grow ours."
Gaining market share is good...if
done right. "If you're trying to grow
market share with an uncompetitive
market-cost structure, you're going
to end up in a very bad place," Smith
warned. "What we have focused on
over the last few years is the 'back to
basics' fundamental approach of running our business better - driving out
costs, driving out wastes and running
a better business. As a result, our costs
per pound are lower than they were a
year ago and from recent years.
"We're much more competitive in

1

Accurate portion
cutting, even
for bone-in
products

rrp

our capacity utilization, yields, those
types of things that are cost-structure
related," Smith said. "We have a much
better cost structure today in all of our
segments then we did a year ago."

Immigrant workers
Tyson Foods was a pilot member of
the Basic Pilot Program, which is now
called E-Verify. Tyson recently took its
hiring process a step further by adopting use of the Social Security Number
Verification System (SSNVS). This
on-line service offered by the Social
Security Administration allows registered users to verify the names and
Social Security numbers of employees.
"I feel very comfortable in saying
we are leading our industry in making sure we're hiring legal immigrants
in this country," Smith said. "Obviously, they are important to our work
force, but because we're a responsible
corporate citizen, we're going to obey
the law and do everything possible to
verify employment."

Doing the right thing
"We only need one reason around here
to do the right thing...and that's because it's right," Smith insisted. "We
pride ourselves on that. Sometimes we
may add a little bit to our cost structure. E-Verify and all the training we

DIVIDER 660
Modular slicing
system with
check weigher
and loading
belt options

yn

0

FALCON conti
Weight-controlled precision cutting
and continuous
loading

I

r

For more information about the
above models and other dicing,
slicing, shredding and strip cutting
equipment, call or visit our website.

Passion for Food Cutting

lqOr

www.MeatPoultry.com * September 2010 * Meat&Poultry * 31
1.888.77.TREIF
www.treif.com
http://www.MeatPoultry.com http://www.treif.com
Meat + Poultry - September 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Meat + Poultry - September 2010
