AlaTrade Foods, an employee-owned poultry processing company based in Alabama, has announced the layoff of 165 employees at its Phenix City facility. The layoff process began on March 2, according to a notice filed with the Alabama Department of Commerce, and was reported on March 28.

According to AL.com, AlaTrade Foods, founded in 2000, is recognized as the largest 100% employee-owned company in the state. It operates three facilities in Alabama, situated in Phenix City, Albertville, and Boaz, and processes over 400 million pounds of chicken annually. The Phenix City facility, the largest of the three, was the focus of a $2.8 million investment in September 2024, aimed at implementing technology to treat chicken paws for export to China.

The company’s recent layoff announcement is part of a broader trend in Alabama, where nearly 2,300 employees have been impacted by mass layoffs in 2025.  Under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, large employers are legally obligated to notify the state 60 days in advance of mass layoffs or facility closures. These notices are published by the Alabama Department of Commerce and are accessible to the public on their website.

The company’s Phenix City facility remains operational amid the staff reductions.