Perdue Farms will dismantle its damaged feed mill in Cofield, North Carolina, after determining the facility cannot be safely repaired following a fatal explosion in February, the company announced April 15.
The dismantling process is scheduled to begin April 20 and will take up to 12 weeks to complete. Perdue has hired specialized contractors to carry out the work using a controlled, step-by-step approach designed to protect workers and the surrounding community.
“Safety remains the highest priority throughout this process,” the company stated. Work will occur from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, with crews implementing dust control, noise reduction and traffic management measures.
The February 21 explosion killed one Perdue associate and injured three others who were working at the facility when the incident occurred. Two workers were treated and released from the hospital, while one remained hospitalized following the blast.
Since the explosion, the site has experienced intermittent rubble fires beneath remaining debris, which specialized fire suppression professionals continue to monitor and manage. The dismantling process will eliminate the underlying source of these fires.
The grain receiving and crush operations at the Cofield facility were not damaged in the explosion but remain temporarily closed due to their proximity to the feed mill. These operations will resume once it is safe to do so.
Perdue has supported affected associates by extending pay and benefits while working individually with team members to identify opportunities at other company locations. The company issued precautionary Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification notices in March as required by federal law.
The Cofield facility has been part of Perdue’s grain, oilseed and feed operations since the mid-1970s, serving chicken farmers and grain producers throughout the region. The company has activated business continuity plans, utilizing other feed manufacturing resources within its network to continue producing feed for contracted growers.
The investigation into the cause of the explosion remains ongoing, with Perdue cooperating fully with local authorities and state regulatory agencies. Company leadership has held multiple town halls with associates to provide updates and maintain transparent communication during the investigation.
Environmental and safety professionals will monitor conditions throughout the dismantling process, with crews adjusting procedures as needed to protect both workers and the surrounding Cofield community.
