FRESNO, Calif. – After operating for more than four decades in the Fresno area and struggling financially for the past 10 years, Zacky & Sons Poultry announced plans to close its two remaining plants and close the business.

According to the company, it has struggled to survive during what has been somewhat of a volatile market and operating the business profitably is impossible. It plans to close the business, including operations at its two plants in Stockton and Fresno, on Jan. 19, 2019, after 45 years.

According to a message on its website, “Zacky has been diligently engaged in seeking business and capital; however, those exhaustive efforts have been unsuccessful and Zacky must now proceed with steps to cease operations.”

The company was founded in Los Angeles as Sam’s Poultry Market in 1928 by Sam Zacky. At one time, Zacky was a thriving, vertically integrated turkey and chicken company employing up to 1,500 people and operated processing plants, a hatchery, a cold storage facility and multiple poultry farms. In an effort to raise capital, the chicken business was sold to Foster Farms in 2001. In 2012, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with plans to reorganize and continue operating normally. In 2013, it conducted a bankruptcy auction of its assets during which a family trust was the winning bidder.

“The company understands that this is a difficult time for everyone (employees, customers, vendors, the community),” the website announcement states. “We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has worked by the company’s side all these years. Thank you for being a part of the Zacky family and allowing us to continue for four generations; without you it would not have been possible.”