PHENIX CITY, ALA. – A recent WARN notice stated that an Alabama poultry producer will lay off 165 employees.

Alatrade Foods LLC provided the notice to the Alabama Department of Commerce on March 28 for workers at its Phenix City plant.

“Changing market conditions have forced us to make the tough decision to lay off approximately 165 employees in our Phenix City, AL plant over the next several weeks and downsize specific operations,” said Josh Whitley, the company’s president and recently appointed chief executive officer. “This has been a very difficult decision to make. We greatly value our employees. Amid this difficult time, AlaTrade continues to pursue additional business opportunities for the Phenix City location.”

Whitley noted the Phenix plant will remain open with more than 125 employees assisting the shift in production to other Alatrade facilities.

The company announced in 2024 it would invest $2.8 million into a project at the Phenix City facility focused on technology to process chicken paws which were mainly for the export market of China.  

AlaTrade Foods was founded in 2000. It implemented an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) starting in 2021.

Josh Whitley took over as president of AlaTrade in March after the retirement of John Pittard in 2024.

AlaTrade processes more than 400 million lbs of chicken per year at its Albertville, Boaz and Phenix City plants.