Wayne-Sanderson Farms challenges DOJ actions in court “`

3a369a6c7220b9b2e5514c3f0e9bbbf 2 WAYNE-SANDERSON FARMS SEEKS RELIEF FROM COURT AGAINST RECENT ACTIONS BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

OAKWOOD, Ga., Jan. 18, 2025 — Wayne-Sanderson Farms filed a motion seeking judicial confirmation that its Agri Stats subscription is legal. This action follows the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division’s unexpected early morning motion to declare the company in violation of a Consent Decree and to force it to discontinue using Agri Stats. The Division is separately pursuing litigation against Agri Stats in Minnesota, aiming to shut down the company; Wayne-Sanderson Farms argues this latest action is an indirect attempt to achieve that goal via their Consent Decree.

Wayne-Sanderson Farms Corporate Logo (PRNewsfoto/Wayne-Sanderson Farms)

The 2022 Consent Decree resulted from the merger of Wayne Farms and Sanderson Farms, where the Division compelled a settlement of an unrelated employee wage class-action lawsuit to facilitate the merger’s approval. Besides paying class-action plaintiffs $69.8 million, the Decree mandated a ten-year monitorship by private attorneys, paid for entirely by the company.

“The Division’s filing is premature and unjustified, a consequence of a flawed monitorship,” stated Jeremy Kilburn, Chief Legal & Compliance Officer of Wayne-Sanderson Farms. The company’s court filing asserts no Consent Decree violation, highlighting its efforts to cooperate with monitors and the Division regarding its Agri Stats subscription. Until the Division’s 2:15 a.m. filing, just two days before a new administration, neither monitors nor the Division specified which Agri Stats aspects were problematic, despite repeated requests.

“Throughout this nearly two-year, almost $2 million monitorship, our monitors have spent more time with the Division than with us. They declined meetings with our staff who could explain Agri Stats and clear up misunderstandings. This isn’t how a monitorship should function,” Kilburn added.

Wayne-Sanderson Farms hopes for prompt resolution of this issue and expects the Division to address misunderstandings regarding Agri Stats and cease these costly proceedings.

About Wayne-Sanderson Farms
Wayne-Sanderson Farms, a leading poultry producer, is committed to serving customers, consumers, and communities ethically. With a diverse product range, strong culture, and over 26,000 employees, the company operates 23 facilities across Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Texas. Brands include SANDERSON FARMS®, COVINGTON FARMS®, WAYNE FARMS®, PLATINUM HARVEST®, CHEF’S CRAFT®, and NAKED TRUTH® chicken products. For more details, visit

SOURCE Wayne-Sanderson Farms

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