A Charles City chicken plant that’s been closed since January has new owners and should reopen by September 1st. A Chicago-based company has purchased the former Bushman Family Farms Plant in Charles City. Charles Austin, Limited, and a separate company called C-Go International were the successful bidders for the vacant plant.
A U.S. bankruptcy judge approved the $2.7 million bid on Friday. The plant’s new owners say they’ll have a workforce of 100 employees within a few months, aiming to have 250 on the payroll by next year. The new company’s initial plans call for all of the chicken processed in Charles City to be shipped to Asia. A company spokesman says the new plant operators want to expand into the kosher meat market soon.
The Charles City plant processes organic and antibiotic-free chickens. Bushman Family Farms opened the plant last November, but by January 20th it had closed after creditors filed a petition for bankruptcy against the company. About 125 people lost their jobs.
By Chris Berg, KCHA, Charles City
