JBS USA to Close Philadelphia and Memphis Plants, Cut 2,000 Jobs

JBS USA is closing its meat-processing plants in Philadelphia and Memphis, eliminating a total of 2,000 jobs. The closures were announced this week and form part of an earlier consolidation of the company’s beef and case-ready businesses. Wesley Batista Filho, CEO of JBS USA, said the decisions directly affect team members and the communities where the company operates.

“These decisions are never easy because they directly affect our team members and the communities where we operate,” he said. “We are deeply grateful to the team members at these facilities for their efforts and contributions over many years. ” JBS USA packages, processes, and prepares meat in 15 countries and supplies Costco, BJ’s, Food Lion, Weis Markets, WinCo, and Stop & Shop.

U.S. cattle and hog slaughtering capacity at about 20 percent. JBS, Tyson, Cargill, and National Beef together process about 85 percent of the nation’s grain-fed cattle.

The company reported a net loss of $279 million in the first quarter of 2026, compared with a $158 million loss in the first quarter of 2025. JBS said the closures are part of a broader strategy focused on growth, modernization, and long-term competitiveness in the United States. The shuttered beef plants will be absorbed into other operations.

U.S. Department of Agriculture data. S.

2 billion pounds, according to Beef Research. Spending rose about 12 percent from the prior year, while the volume sold increased more than 4 percent. Pilgrim’s Pride, owned by JBS, separately announced it will shift some chicken production from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Ellijay, Georgia.

The company plans to invest $75 million in its existing Ellijay facility, though 348 employees in Chattanooga are expected to lose their jobs. “We must ensure our operations are efficient, modern, and positioned to compete,” Filho said.