EXHIBIT 99


Contact:  Karla Harvill
          770-393-5091


             Gold Kist Inc. Reports Transitional Quarter Results

      ATLANTA,  Ga.  (November  16, 2004) - Gold  Kist  Inc.  today  reported
financial  results for the quarter ended October 2, 2004.  The quarter  ended
October  2,  2004  is a transitional quarter in connection with  Gold  Kist's
previously  announced  a  change in its fiscal  year-end  from  the  Saturday
following  the  last  Thursday  in June to the Saturday  following  the  last
Thursday  in  September.  Also, after the completion  of  the  quarter  ended
October  2, 2004, Gold Kist completed its conversion to a for profit  company
from  a  cooperative marketing association.  Accordingly, the  quarter  ended
October  2,  2004  is  the final quarter that Gold  Kist  will  report  as  a
cooperative.

     For  the  quarter ended October 2, 2004, net income increased 45 percent
to  $34.0  million  from net income of $23.5 million for  the  quarter  ended
September 27, 2003.  Net sales for the quarter were $646.5 million,  compared
with $516.7 million for the year-earlier period.

     Commenting  on the results, John Bekkers, president and chief  executive
officer,  said, "The 25.1 percent increase in net sales for the  quarter  was
due  primarily  to  an approximate 10.6 percent increase in  average  broiler
prices  and an approximate 13.3 percent increase in broiler pounds  produced.
The  extra  week  in the period contributed the majority of the  increase  in
broiler pounds sold.  Demand remained healthy due to an overall strengthening
in  the  economy, favorable production levels, improved export demand, higher
prices  in  the beef and pork meat sectors and a continuation of diet  trends
emphasizing  low  fat proteins such as chicken. New product introductions  in
fast-food  and quick-service restaurants have also had a positive  impact  on
demand.   For  the  quarter ended October 2, 2004, broiler  prices  were  9.1
percent  below prices for the quarter ended June 26, 2004, due  to  increased
supply.   We  expect this trend to continue at least through the next  fiscal
quarter ending January 1, 2005.

     "The  strong  growth in net income was partially offset by  higher  feed
ingredient costs, principally soybean meal.  Feed costs for the quarter  just
ended  were  23.9  percent higher than in the comparable  period  last  year.
Although  cash  market prices for soybean meal and corn declined  during  the
quarter  ended October 2, 2004, we did not receive the full benefit of  these
price  declines  due  to priced-forward contracts on a portion  of  our  feed
ingredient requirements."

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Gold Kist Announces Transitional Quarter Financial Results
Page 2
November 16, 2004



     Gold Kist Inc. will hold a conference call to discuss this press release
today, November 16, 2004, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time.  Investors will have the
opportunity  to  listen to a live Internet broadcast of the  conference  call
through   the   Company's   Web   site   at   www.goldkist.com   or   through
www.fulldisclosure.com.  To listen to the live call, please  go  to  the  Web
site  at  least  15 minutes early to register and download  and  install  any
necessary audio software.  For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast,
an  Internet  replay will be available shortly after the  call  and  continue
through  December  1,  2004.   If Internet access  is  unavailable,  you  may
participate  on  the live call by telephone by dialing (800)  458-9009.   The
confirmation  number for this call is 879335.  Gold Kist  will  also  file  a
transition  report  on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange  Commission
that  will  contain  additional  details on its  financial  results  for  the
transitional quarter.

                                    # # #

      This  news release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined  in
the federal securities laws regarding the Gold Kist's beliefs, anticipations,
expectations or predictions of the future.  These forward-looking  statements
involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Among the important factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in  such
forward-looking statements include uncertainties relating to the fluctuations
in  the commodity prices of feed ingredients and broiler products as well  as
well as other risks described under "Risk Factors" in our Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Gold  Kist undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-
looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events  or
otherwise.


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.  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 Announces Transitional Quarter Financial Results
Page 2
November 16, 2004

<TABLE>
                          GOLD KIST INC.
                   CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
     (Dollar Amounts, Except Per Share Amounts, in Thousands)
                           (Unaudited)
<CAPTION>
                                               June 26,  October 2,
                                                 2004       2004
<S>                                            <C>        <C>
ASSETS
Current assets:
 Cash and cash equivalents                     $136,699   $175,289
 Receivables, net                               137,654    115,015
 Inventories                                    232,905    238,892
 Deferred income taxes                           20,482     15,732
 Other current assets                            31,564     38,577
  Total current assets                          559,304    583,505
Investments                                      12,760     13,072
Property, plant and equipment, net              231,657    247,398
Deferred income taxes                            20,060     13,215
Other assets                                     62,076     65,652
                                               $885,857   $922,842

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
 Notes payable and current maturities of
  long-term debt                               $ 21,167   $ 20,875
 Accounts payable                                75,292     84,121
 Accrued compensation and related expenses       52,074     42,556
 Other current liabilities                       65,526     88,049
  Total current liabilities                     214,059    235,601
Long-term debt, less current maturities         282,954    281,408
Accrued pension costs                            53,825     37,387
Accrued postretirement benefit costs              7,539      6,760
Other liabilities                                42,865     44,138
  Total liabilities                             601,242    605,294
Patrons' and other equity:
 Common stock, $1.00 par value - Authorized
  500,000 shares; issued and Outstanding
  2,449 at June 30, 2004 and 2,317 at
  October 2, 2004                                     2          2
 Patronage reserves                             219,964    232,569
 Accumulated other comprehensive loss           (44,422)   (42,318)
 Retained earnings                              109,071    127,295
  Total patrons' and other equity               284,615    317,548
                                               $885,857   $922,842
</TABLE>
Gold Kist Announces Transitional Quarter Financial Results
Page 2
November 16, 2004

<TABLE>
                       GOLD KIST INC.
            CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                   (Amounts in Thousands)
                        (Unaudited)
<CAPTION>
                                               Quarter Ended
                                         Sept. 27,      October 2,
                                           2003            2004
                                         (13 Weeks)   (14 Weeks)
<S>                                        <C>           <C>
Net sales volume                          $516,688      $646,511
Cost of sales                              453,998       554,142
 Gross profit                               62,690        92,369
Distribution, administrative and
 general expenses                           24,271        31,011
Conversion expenses and advisory fees           --         2,522
 Net operating income                       38,419        58,836
Other income (deductions):
 Interest and dividend income                  173           635
 Interest expense                           (7,603)       (8,514)
 Miscellaneous, net                          4,242         1,833
   Total other deductions, net              (3,188)       (6,046)
 Income from operations before income
   taxes                                    35,231        52,790
Income tax expense                          11,746        18,772
 Net income                                $23,485       $34,018
</TABLE>

Gold Kist Announces Transitional Quarter Financial Results
Page 2
November 16, 2004

<TABLE>
                           GOLD KIST INC.
               CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                      (Amounts in Thousands)
                            (Unaudited)
<CAPTION>
                                                Quarter Ended
                                            Sept. 27,    October 2,
                                              2003          2004
                                             (13 Weeks)  (14 Weeks)
<S>                                                  <C>     <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
 Net income                                  $ 23,485     $ 34,018
 Non-cash items included in net income:
  Depreciation and amortization                 9,964       10,030
  Pension and other benefit plans expense       1,824        2,515
  Deferred income tax expense                  11,746       10,355
  Other                                         1,860       (1,988)
 Changes in operating assets and
  liabilities:
  Receivables                                  (8,046)      22,639
  Inventories                                  (9,753)      (5,987)
  Other current assets                            300       (1,594)
  Accounts payable, accrued and other
   expenses                                    10,471       20,209
Net cash provided by operating activities      41,851       90,197

Cash flows from investing activities:
 Acquisitions of property, plant and
  equipment                                    (3,992)     (25,160)
 Contributions to pension and other benefit
  plans                                          (609)     (14,505)
 Proceeds from disposal of investments             42           --
 Other                                          2,793       (2,865)
Net cash used in investing activities          (1,766)     (42,530)

Cash flows from financing activities:
 Principal repayments of long-term debt       (34,976)      (1,914)
 Payments of capitalized financing costs           --         (444)
 Patronage refunds and other equity paid in
  cash                                         (2,260)      (6,719)
Net cash used in financing activities         (37,236)      (9,077)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents         2,849       38,590
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of
 period                                        11,026      136,699
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $ 13,875     $175,289
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow
 information:
 Cash paid (received) during the years for:
  Interest (net of amounts capitalized)      $  8,000     $ 13,712
  Income taxes, net                          $ (2,984)    $(10,663)
</TABLE>