By Katie Tabeling, Delaware Business Times, March 5, 2025

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.