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MILLSBORO — Mountaire Farms, one of the three major players in the Delmarva peninsula’s $4 billion chicken industry, now has a new president in longtime poultry processing executive Amanda Irwin.

She was named as the new president when previous President and CEO Philip Pylar retired from Mountaire at the end of 2024. While Irwin had previously served as the chief operating officer for the company, her history with the company doesn’t start there – she started with Mountaire as intern at one of its plants in Delaware.

Now in her third month in her new post, Irwin is tasked with addressing challenges such as the Avian Flu as well as inflation at the grocery store. Still, she has big plans for the fourth largest poultry producer in the United States. Her biggest priority in the job is simple – workforce development.

“I’ve been fortunate to be part of programs at Mountaire that are truly changing lives,” Irwin told DBT. “Our focus on career pathways helps employees transition into skilled labor and leadership roles through a broad range of training programs. These initiatives not only fill critical roles within the company but also provide employees with more rewarding career opportunities.”

She would know from experience. Irwin’s family moved to Seaford when she was in high school. While studying animal science at Clemson University, she applied to an internship at Townsend Inc. Farms in Millsboro on the recommendation from a neighbor. Irwin would spend the summer on the quality assurance team.

Irwin came back after applying to the management trainee program – and years later when Mountaire bought the Millsboro complex in 2000, she found herself working as a supervisor. Over the years, she has worked in almost every department from hatchery to processing to sales. She credits that hands-on learning to understanding what sets Mountaire apart from the rest.

Looking back, she said she worked at Mountaire for her whole career because of the people who make the company what it is today.

“This is a business that is very detailed and constantly changing,” Irwin said “Mountaire is a special place.  It’s a place where I have always had a strong sense of belonging.  The commitment that we have to the people is clear in everything we do.  It’s a wonderful feeling to be able to visit the facilities and reconnect with people that I worked with throughout my career, even as an intern.”

While Mountaire looms large in the chicken industry and in Delaware — the company was ranked the ninth largest employer in the state in 2024 — many consumers don’t recognize the brand name. The company primarily operates as a private label supplier, so it has a unique place in the poultry supply chain. In the past 20 years, Irwin points to major advancements in technology to ensure that the chicken arrives packaged on time at the grocery store and improvements.

“One of the biggest changes has been in processing technology. Automation and data-driven decision-making have improved efficiency, food safety, and overall product quality,” she said. “Staying ahead [of supply chain complexities] requires continuous improvement, embracing innovation, and maintaining the high-quality standards that set Mountaire apart.”

It’s also a way that she sees as a possible solution to keep costs down in the face of inflation. Chicken breast prices at the market, which averaged less than $3 a pound in March 2020, soared to $4.75 a pound in September 2022. The avian flu, which has caused some farms to depopulate birds, is another issue that could drive up costs.

Irwin said Mountaire’s strategy focuses on operational efficiencies as well as working with others in the supply chain network to trim costs. When it comes to the bird flu, Mountaire has rigorous monitoring and other biosecurity protocols in place as precautions

“We understand that affordability is a top priority for consumers, and we remain dedicated to delivering high-quality products at competitive prices, even in uncertain economic times,” she said.

Despite the challenges ahead, Irwin said that she looks forward to continuing the company’s legacy of training the next generation of workers, supervisors and managers. That includes Mountaire’s English as a Second Language programs and leadership training program that she enrolled in as a college graduate.

“Seeing these efforts come to life every day and being surrounded by a team that shares this passion, is what excites me most about the future of Mountaire,” she said.

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Millsboro, DE – February 12, 2025 – Mountaire was named one of America’s Best Employers in 2025, according to Forbes magazine, and was ranked as the number one company in the food industry.

This prestigious award is presented in collaboration with Statista, the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. The award list was announced on February 12th, 2025, and can be viewed on Forbes’ website: https://www.forbes.com/lists/best-large-employers/.

Forbes and Statista selected America’s Best Employers 2025 through an independent survey from a vast sample of over 217,000 U.S. employees working for companies employing at least 1,000 people within the U.S. Over 6.5 million employer evaluations were considered. The final score is based on two types of evaluations: personal (those given by employees themselves) and public (those given by friends and family members of employees, or members of the public who work in the same industry), with a much higher weighting for personal evaluations.

“We are proud to be recognized, but even more proud of the culture we’ve built at Mountaire,” said Amanda Irwin, President. “We are blessed to have some of the best leaders in the industry who motivate their teams with integrity and respect. Our employees come first, and their commitment to excellence sets us apart.”

The annual rankings were based primarily on survey responses from more than 217,000 employees working at companies within the U.S.  Survey respondents (who remained anonymous so they could answer freely) were asked if they would recommend their employer to others and to rate it based on a range of criteria, including salary, work environment, training programs, and opportunities to advance. Participants were also asked if they would recommend their previous employers (within the past two years) and the employers they knew through their industry experience or through friends or family who worked there.

Mountaire has been privately owned since it was founded in 1914.

About Mountaire: Mountaire® is a registered trademark of Mountaire Corporation. Mountaire Corporation and its affiliates, Mountaire Farms Inc. and Mountaire Farms of Delaware, Inc. (collectively, “Mountaire”), are agricultural food production and processing companies providing work for almost 10,000 people at facilities in Arkansas, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina.

About Statista: Statista publishes hundreds of worldwide industry rankings and company listings with high-profile media partners. This research and analysis service is based on the success of statista.com, the leading data and business intelligence portal that provides statistics, business-relevant data, and various market and consumer studies and surveys.

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Mountaire offers $2,500 scholarships to help families pay for college. To learn more about the program and to apply, go HERE.

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MILLSBORO, Del. – Monday, October 28^th, 2024 – Mountaire announced the retirement of Phillip Plylar, President and CEO, effective December 31st, 2024.

“We are grateful for Phil’s many contributions over the last 28 years, which have led to the company’s continued growth and prosperity,” said Dabbs Cavin, CEO of Mountaire Corporation. “Phil has done such a tremendous job leading Mountaire Farms that we are now the fourth-largest company in our industry.”

Succeeding Phil, Mountaire announced Amanda Irwin, Chief Operating Officer, as the next President of Mountaire Farms, effective January 1st, 2025.  Irwin started as an intern at the former Townsend’s Millsboro complex which was later purchased by Mountaire in 2000. She has spent her entire career at Mountaire.

“Her comprehensive understanding of our business and her exceptional track record make her the ideal choice for this role,” Cavin said. “More importantly, she embodies the culture we strive for at Mountaire — committed to doing the right thing and treating everyone with respect.”

“I feel very fortunate to have been a part of this industry and to have had the opportunity to spend the last 28 years of my career with Mountaire,” Plylar said. “It has been an honor to work for Ronnie Cameron and I cannot say enough positive things about him. I want to thank the fantastic leadership team I have had the privilege to work alongside, as well as our team members across the company.

“I never thought I would be in the chicken business, now I cannot imagine having done anything else. I am grateful to have had this opportunity and I look forward to serving and consulting with the business, helping support the company’s continued success in any way that I can.”

On the appointment of Amanda Irwin to succeed him, Plylar said he could not be more excited for her. “I have worked with her for many years and seen her outstanding performance as a member of our leadership team. I have complete confidence in her, and I look forward to seeing her take the company to new heights!”

“I am truly humbled and excited by this new opportunity,” Irwin said. “It is an honor to have been selected by the board to succeed Phil as President. I would like to take this moment to thank Phil for his outstanding leadership and guidance over the years, both to me personally and to Mountaire Farms. As I look ahead, I see a bright future for our company. I promise to remain highly committed and work to ensure that we continue to achieve our vision while remaining true to the principles and core values that have been the foundation of Mountaire Farms’ success.”

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To learn how they’re helping people impacted by Hurricane Helene, check out their website for the very latest: https://www.samaritanspurse.org/disaster/hurricane-helene/

We’ve also partnered with our friends at Operation BBQ Relief to provide chicken for their relief efforts in Hendersonville, NC, as they work tirelessly to feed the first responders, the volunteers, and everyone impacted by the storms. We’re partnering with South River Baptist Church as they work to feed people in Avery County, Wilkes County, Todd and Statesville. And we’re working with our friends from Cooking for Christ who are set up to cook for people in Boone, NC.

We’ve also provided trailers, boxes, and combo bins for multiple organizations who have collected supplies in various areas. We are blessed to see so many people mobilizing to help those in need.

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