Exhibit 99.1

Gold Kist Inc.		— Contact —
P.O. Box 2210		Karla Harvill
Atlanta, GA 30301		(770) 393-5091

For Immediate Release:

Gold Kist Inc. Reports Fiscal Third Quarter 2004 Results

Atlanta, Ga., May 11, 2004 — Gold Kist Inc. today reported net margins of $29.8 million for the third fiscal quarter ended March 27, 2004, compared to a net loss of $11.8 million in the same quarter last year. Third quarter sales were $575.5 million, compared to $446 million for the same period last year.

For the nine months ended March 27, 2004, the company reported net margins of $56.7 million, compared to a net loss of $66 million for the same period last year. This was on sales of $1.62 billion for the first nine months of 2004, compared to sales of $1.36 billion for the first nine months of 2003.

“An overall strengthening of the economy, favorable production levels, improved export demand and higher prices in the beef and pork meat sectors contributed to stronger demand and higher chicken sales prices in the fiscal 2004 periods. Current diet trends emphasizing low fat proteins also have favorably impacted demand,” said John Bekkers, president and chief executive officer. “Increased margins in the March 2004 period were primarily due to higher chicken selling prices. These margins were partially offset by higher feed ingredient costs, particularly soybean meal which is 25 percent higher than a year ago.”

Gold Kist Inc. will hold a conference call to discuss financial results for its third fiscal quarter on Tuesday, May 11, 2004 by a Web cast and by telephone available to all interested parties at 11 a.m. EDT. To access the call online, go to http://www.firstcallevents.com/service/ajwz406401762gf12.html, or dial 1-800-362-0574 to participate live by telephone. The conference identification is “Gold Kist.” Those listening via the Internet should go to the site 15 minutes prior to register, download and install any necessary audio software. An audio replay of the call will be available until May 31 at www.goldkist.com.

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Gold Kist Report Fiscal Third Quarter 2004 Results

About Gold Kist

Gold Kist is the third largest integrated broiler company in the United States, accounting for more than 9 percent of chicken, or broiler, meat produced in the United States in 2003. Gold Kist operates a fully-integrated broiler production business that provides processing, purchasing and marketing services to its contract growers. Gold Kist’s broiler production operations include nine broiler complexes located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. For more information, visit our website at www.goldkist.com.

GOLD KIST INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Amounts in Thousands)

(Unaudited)

		June 28, 2003				March 27, 2004
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	11,026			93,526
Receivables, principally trade, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,002 at June 28, 2003 and $1,821 at March 27, 2004			104,699			117,156
Inventories			196,728			221,283
Deferred income taxes			43,270			22,043
Other current assets			20,100			27,633
Total current assets			375,823			481,641
Investments			66,805			50,914
Property, plant and equipment, net			226,905			218,684
Deferred income taxes			26,822			30,799
Other assets			65,692			67,230
		$	762,047			849,268
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt		$	22,162			13,436
Accounts payable			63,281			67,012
Accrued compensation and related expenses			31,875			42,978
Interest left on deposit			8,495			7,570
Income taxes payable			—			22,348
Other current liabilities			39,783			59,018
Total current liabilities			165,596			212,362
Long-term debt, less current maturities			324,011			296,042
Accrued pension costs			44,487			59,722
Accrued postretirement benefit costs			10,119			7,485
Other liabilities			33,937			42,474
Total liabilities			578,150			618,085
Patrons’ and other equity:
Common stock, $1.00 par value - Authorized 500 shares; issued and outstanding 2 at June 28, 2003 and March 27, 2004			2			2
Patronage reserves			185,620			212,992
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(43,448	)		(43,448	)
Retained earnings			41,723			61,637
Total patrons’ and other equity			183,897			231,183
		$	762,047			849,268

GOLD KIST INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Amounts in Thousands)

(Unaudited)

		Three Months Ended							Nine Months Ended
		Mar. 29, 2003				Mar. 27, 2004			Mar. 29, 2003			Mar. 27, 2004
Net sales volume		$	466,389			575,589			1,364,501			1,629,204
Cost of sales			461,589			480,128			1,360,576			1,402,843
Gross margins			4,800			95,461			3,925			226,361
Distribution, administrative and general expenses			19,196			27,200			59,841			80,494
Postretirement benefit curtailment gain and pension settlement (expense)			554			(9,908	)		10,865			(9,908	)
Net operating margins (loss)			(13,842	)		58,353			(45,051	)		135,959
Other income (deductions):
Interest and dividend income			662			744			2,051			1,061
Interest expense			(6,762	)		(13,316	)		(18,423	)		(27,701	)
Unrealized loss on investment			—			—			(24,064	)		(18,486	)
Miscellaneous, net			2,134			886			(1,588	)		5,419
Total other deductions			(3,966	)		(11,686	)		(42,024	)		(39,707	)
Margins (loss) from operations before income taxes			(17,808	)		46,667			(87,075	)		96,252
Income tax expense (benefit)			(5,937	)		16,805			(21,008	)		39,500
Net margins (loss)		$	(11,871	)		29,862			(66,067	)		56,752