Last February saw foodservice distributing giant Sysco Corp. approve and start selling Tyson Crispy Thigh Wings. These are boneless, skinless, whole muscle chicken thigh portions uniquely cut to look and eat just bone-in wings. It’s all to give consumers the tender, juicy taste of wings they crave—but without the bones. 

At the Consumer Analyst Group of New York (CAGNY) annual conference, Tyson Foods, Inc. CEO Noel White, reiterated that “Tyson Foods’ scale, diversified portfolio, international footprint and financial track record uniquely position the company for continued, long-term growth at a time when there’s growing global demand for protein.”

Headquartered in West Chester, Penn., Keystone supplies chicken, beef, fish and pork to some of the world’s leading quick-service restaurant chains, as well as retail and convenience store channels. Its value-added product portfolio includes chicken nuggets, wings and tenders; beef patties; and breaded fish fillets.

The sale includes TNT Crust, a business founded in 1981 that produces partially-baked and self-rising pizza crusts for frozen pizza manufacturers and foodservice customers. The more than 400 team members employed at two manufacturing facilities in Green Bay, Wisconsin, are expected to continue with the company under the new owner.

Given the scale of the food waste problem, Tyson Innovation Lab sought partnerships with like-minded food companies. The first product under the ¡Yappah! brand, Protein Crisps, is crafted from rescued and up-cycled vegetable and grain-based ingredients that might otherwise be left behind.

The company’s operations include two plants located in Tecumseh and Waverly, Nebraska, as well as live operations. Tyson Foods currently plans to operate Tecumseh Poultry as a separate, wholly owned subsidiary and expects to retain its approximately 600 team members, including operations staff, sales teams and management.

The boxes can be ordered online at flashfoodbox.com or through the Flashfood app available through most online app stores and are delivered directly to customers’ homes. Subscribers will receive a 10% discount. Subscriptions are available weekly, biweekly and monthly. Recipes using these ingredients are also available online.

Goldman Sachs is acting as Tyson Foods’ financial advisor on the sale.

Tyson Foods, Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Hayes said that Tyson Foods is well-positioned to meet the growing demand for protein. Speaking at the 2018 Consumer Analyst Group of New York conference, Hayes and members of Tyson Foods’ enterprise leadership team shared with investors that the company is delivering on its strategy and driving growth across the company’s portfolio of protein – from its Chicken, Beef and Pork segments to Prepared Foods.