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Baldor Specialty Foods, a US premium food distributor in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region, has announced that it has acquired meat company Golden Packing to enhance its meat offerings.

As part of the acquisition, Baldor will take over the Hunts Point Cooperative Market business under a new name, Golden Meat Co. The acquisition will allow Baldor to integrate meat processing by combining its sourcing with butchering while maintaining its existing position in logistics.

Golden Meat Co has officially joined Baldor’s inventory line-up of over 6,000 items across produce, grocery, bakery, dairy, meat, poultry and fish. Its product offerings will include a full line of meats, both dry-aged and fresh, prime and high choice, all custom-cut and portioned to customers’ needs.

Golden Packing was established in the 1920s in Manhattan, in an area now known as the Meatpacking District. Today, Golden Packing has more than 150 customers, including high-end steak houses around New York City. The business was reinvigorated in 2020 by David Bernstein, the great-grandson of the company’s original owner, and Jerry Zwernemann. Combined, the two have more than 60 years of experience in the meat industry.

TJ Murphy, owner and CEO of Baldor Specialty Foods, said: “For decades, our customers have trusted us for high-quality fresh food. Adding meat processing has been a part of our plan since we sold our first piece of protein.”

To support its growth, Baldor has strengthened its team with several key hires. Joining as vice president of business development to lead the protein sales expansion and increase Golden Meat Co's visibility on the East Coast is Mark Pastore, who has more than 30 years of experience in the meat industry.

Kevin Lindgren, previously director of protein merchandising at Baldor, will now serve as director of Golden Meat Co, focusing on operations and integration. Baldor also welcomed John Winters DiMarco as protein business development manager and Daniel Nguyen as senior protein supply planner. The founders of Golden Packing will stay on, as will their staff, including butchers and drivers, to operate the business and build out the Baldor offerings.

Murphy continued: “With Baldor’s sourcing, procurement, and delivery capabilities paired with Golden’s cutting and dry aging expertise, we will be scaling a cut shop that meets our customers’ growing needs around meat and bringing wheels to the great business Golden has already created.”

Golden Packing's Bernstein said that despite Baldor's size, the company "feels like family," rather than just a large corporation as a partner.

He added: "We have found a like-minded organisation that is as committed to its customers as we are. This is a great day for our business and we are excited to see Golden's business accelerate as part of Baldor, with the opportunity to sell our meat up and down the Eastern Seaboard."

Golden Meat Co’s sales will be processed through Baldor platforms with delivery through the company’s existing trucking operations. Golden Packing customers and existing Baldor customers will now have access to all Baldor products.

Baldor Specialty Foods now services more than 14,000 foodservice, retail and corporate accounts, and offers over 6,000 food items. Baldor said that in line with its 'philosophy of sourcing,' Golden will continue to expand its vendor partnerships with a focus on connecting customers with products from farms that prioritise flavour and humane raising of animals.