Food processor has operated in the city for 67 years
After 67 years in St. James, the food processing plant Tony Downs Foods announced this past weekend that it will be closing the facility on May 30. Approximately 75 employees will be impacted by the closure.
A press release issued by the company stated that the food industry’s competitive atmosphere makes it “more efficient for the St. James product lines to be manufactured elsewhere.” The plant specialized in processing chicken for the company’s canned, refrigerated and frozen products
Company officials are discussing employment opportunities for the plant’s displaced workers to move to other company locations, as well as looking for new uses for the facility.
Tony Downs Foods started in 1947 when Tony Downs purchased a produce business in St. James. With experience in the poultry industry, he converted the business into a poultry processing plant. Today, Richard Downs followed his father in the company’s leadership. President of Tony Downs Foods today is Mike Downs.