Smithfield Foods has bought out the remaining stake in private-label sausage manufacturer Kansas City Sausage Company, after investing in a 50-50 joint venture back in 2013.
The sausage maker has operations in Des Moines, Iowa – where it produces premium raw materials for sausage, as well as value-added products including boneless hams – as well as in its home town of Kansas City, Missouri.
Its Kansas City plant is the newest and most modern sausage processing facility in the US, Smithfield said, and is designed to deliver optimum efficiency to the company’s retail and foodservice customers.
Smithfield Foods chief executive officer Kenneth M Sullivan said: “This latest acquisition will build on the success of our growing packaged meats business and brands. It simultaneously enhances our vertically integrated supply chain, further harmonising our live production and processing capabilities. With this transaction, we will strengthen our focus on branded pre-rigor pork products and leverage Smithfield’s expansive sales and distribution network to bring these premium offerings to more consumers.”
Joseph B Sebring, president of Smithfield Foods’ packaged meats division, added: “This full acquisition further supports the growth of several key packaged meats categories, including breakfast and fresh dinner sausage, as well as Italian-style meal solutions like meatballs. Kansas City Sausage produces some of Smithfield Foods’ fastest growing products including Smithfield breakfast sausage, Smithfield Craft Collection seasonal brats, and Carando meatballs.
“In fact, Carando currently boasts the fastest selling fresh meatball in the US.”
The move comes after Smithfield revealed investment of $25 million in Chef’d, joining the likes of Campbell’s and online grocery company Fresh Direct in putting money behind the US meal kit provider.
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