The news headlines of the past year have been dominated by upheaval and uncertainty, but the stories surrounding the meat and poultry industry were more positive: construction of new plants, introduction of new products, record sales marks achieved. Those stories were a part of the largely positive response from the industry to this year’s annual Top 100 Report.

Of the companies surveyed, 22 replied that this past fiscal year was their best year ever; 11 more called it a good year. Just 10 reported an average year, and not a single company called the last year “poor” or “worst year ever.” The optimism is carrying over to the current year as well, as 24 processors say it will be even better than this year. 

A new addition to this year’s Top 100 Report is a list of companies that had the top sales growth. Four companies who submitted information reported growth of more than 20 percent. Eddy Packing Co. of Yoakum, Texas, led the way with 25%. This year’s list of top-growing companies include mid-sized processors like Swaggerty Sausage as well as large corporations like Omaha Packing Co.; processors like Brookwood Farms and Makowski’s Real Sausage that didn’t crack the Top 100 list but showed remarkable growth have also been recognized.

While the results of this year’s Top 100 Report were largely positive, companies do have concerns for the coming year. Among the list of challenges that may face the industry in the next year — Avian influenza, changing restaurant and consumer trends — three areas stood out. The first was raw material costs, which was listed by five companies that submitted information. Labor issues were also a prominent concern. Abseentism and overtime wages were mentioned, but the chief concern was finding enough employees to fill open positions, and retaining the quality employees that are already employed. Failing that, companies are searching out ways to compensate for that lack of available help. 

“Will automation and technology keep up with what appears to be a shrinking labor pool?” one company asked.

Many of the concerns, though, centered on Washington D.C. One respondent noted the “uncertainty of the direction of our federal government,” while several others worried about the government activity regarding trade agreements. Immigration reform, federal debt, government/USDA regulations and health care also were noted.  NP

The National Provisioner is grateful to the companies that participated in this year’s report. If you would like to be a part of next year’s Top 100 Report, please e-mail Sam Gazdziak at gazdziaks@bnpmedia.com.

2016 Market Segment Reports

Editor’s note: The market segment reports are gathered by information submitted by the following companies. Those companies that did not respond or declined to provide specific information were not included.

BEEF

PORK

TURKEY

CHICKEN

FRESH

EXPORT

NATURAL/ORGANIC

Top Growth Companies

For the first time, The National Provisioner is highlighting companies that have shown particularly strong sales growth from one year to the next. We have decided to include companies from across the entire meat and poultry industry, and not just those companies within the Top 100 list.

Editor’s note: This data was gathered from information submitted by the following companies, including those who did not appear in the Top 100. Those companies that did not provide specific information were not included.

Here are some highlights from the top-growing companies who responded to this year’s report.

•  EDDY PACKING CO. (25%) boosted the size of its sales force and hired a new VP of retail sales. The company also updated its logo and retail branding packaging, as well as rolled out a new website. The company says it continues to increase its private label business and incorporate new technologies to improve efficiencies.

•  In November, SWAGGERTY SAUSAGE CO. (22%) introduced three new flavors of breakfast sandwiches — Sausage Biscuit, Sausage & Buttermilk Biscuit, and Chicken & Buttermilk Biscuit. The company says its sausage products are now available in more than 10,000 grocers, wholesale establishments and foodservice establishments.

•  GREATER OMAHA PACKING CO. (20% growth) is expanding its automated storage facility.

•  MAKOWSKI’S REAL SAUSAGE CO. (20%), Chicago, Ill., saw sales take off with several of the company’s key accounts in the past year. Along with a surge in the antibiotic-free market, customers are looking for uncured options, as well as nitrite-free and locally made products. The company now had more than 150 custom blends for its clients. “The meat business has never been as exciting as it has today!” says company President Nicole Makowski.

•  WEST LIBERTY FOODS LLC (13.9%) acquired the assets of Crystal Lake Farms earlier this year. In 2016, the company opened Liberty Cold Storage.

•  PEER FOODS GROUP (11.5%), with a history that dates back to the era of the Chicago Stockyards, set a sales growth record in 2016.

•  BROOKWOOD FARMS (9.5%), Siler City, N.C., completed a $2 million expansion, increasing its cooking space by 50%. This addition helped the company reach record sales and record volume.

•  GODSHALL’S QUALITY MEATS (9.5%) named a new chief operating officer, Ron Godshall, and announced plans to become an employee owned company. A new facility was opened, and the company’s 4000th solar module was installed. The company also introduced several new products and enjoyed signifi cant retail growth.

•  DEEN MEAT & COOKED FOODS (9.4%), Ft. Worth, Texas, has seen sales grow thanks to an increased demand in kettle-cooked and marinated items.

•  Daily’s Premium Meats, owned by SEABOARD FOODS LLC (8.3%) and Triumph Foods, opened a new bacon processing plant in St. Joseph, Mo. A new plant owned by the companies is expected to begin production in Sioux City, Iowa, as Seaboard Triumph Foods in late summer 2017. Seaboard also continues to expand hog production to accommodate the additional processing capacity from the Sioux City plant. The company’s energy division, High Plains Biodiesel, purchased an idle facility in St. Joseph and begon operating as HPBSt. Joe Biodiesel.

•  SUGARCREEK (8.3%) opened a 418,000-square-foot facility, housing the largest sous vide line in North America. The company says that its patent-pending process, “Better in Bag,” will revolutionize the back of house for the foodservice industry.

•  COLORADO PREMIUM (7.1%) acquired a new facility in Carrolton, Ga.

•  BROADLEAF (USA) INC. (4.5%) reported strong sales across all species, including pork, beef and chicken as well as elk, venison, bison and specialty poultry.

•  GOLDEN WEST FOOD GROUP (4.4%) reported growth in its American BBQ Co., Calle Sabor and Red Moon brands, as well as its Certified Angus Beef meat products. It introduced a Kobe beef program with grinds and steaks.

The Top 100 Archives

See how processors ranked in previous Top 100 reports.

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