Boar's Head Provision Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food manufacturing |
| Founded | January 1, 1905 in Brooklyn, New York, United States |
| Founder | Frank Brunckhorst |
| Headquarters | Sarasota , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Cold-cut meats (turkey, ham, beef, bologna), franks, sausages, bacon, cheeses, charcuterie items, hummus, dips, spreads, olives, pickles, condiments |
| Owner | Descendants of Frank Brunckhorst |
| Website | www |
Boar's Head Provision Co., Inc.—also recognized as Boar's Head Brand or Frank Brunckhorst Co., LLC—offers a variety of cold-cut meats such as turkey, ham, beef, and bologna, along with franks, sausages, bacon, cheeses, charcuterie items, hummus, dips, spreads, olives, pickles, and assorted condiments. Established in 1905 in Brooklyn, New York, the company currently serves customers throughout the United States and has maintained its corporate headquarters in Sarasota, Florida since 2001.
Ownership remains private and is retained by descendants of the original founder, Frank Brunckhorst.
History
The Boar's Head brand originated in 1905 when Frank Brunckhorst started distributing cold cuts and hot dogs. By 1933, Brunckhorst collaborated with partners Bruno Bischoff and Theodore Weiler to launch their initial manufacturing facility in Brooklyn, employing three workers.
Leadership passed to Brunckhorst’s son until his passing in 1972. During the 1990s, the company grew by adding processing plants in Virginia, Arkansas, and Michigan while focusing on exclusive agreements with supermarket chains. In 2001, the headquarters relocated to Sarasota, Florida—a move influenced in part by a longstanding relationship with Publix, headquartered nearby in Lakeland.
For many years, Joseph Sirola served as the voice talent for Boar’s Head advertising campaigns. In 2008, the company experimented with a retail store in Brooklyn; however, this location ceased operations the following year.
Fatalities linked to products
An outbreak of listeriosis beginning May 29, 2024, was traced by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to Boar's Head products. As of September 25, 2024, this outbreak resulted in 10 fatalities and 59 hospitalizations—the largest such event since 2011. The company issued a recall covering a wide array of products, including more than seven million pounds manufactured at its Greensville County, Virginia facility near Jarratt. In response to these events during September 2024, Boar's Head announced an indefinite shutdown of the Jarratt plant and permanently halted liverwurst production.
Inspections conducted from August 2023 through July 2024 uncovered persistent sanitation deficiencies at the Jarratt facility. Issues included black mold presence, contaminated surfaces, and unidentified substances dripping from ceilings. The Food Safety and Inspection Service reported numerous violations related to operational procedures, labeling accuracy, and cleanliness standards.
In the aftermath of the outbreak, Boar's Head faced several lawsuits alleging wrongful death and misleading advertising connected to the listeria contamination.