Pilgrim's Pride
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food processing, Poultry |
| Founded | 1946 |
| Founder | Lonnie "Bo" Pilgrim, Aubrey Pilgrim |
| Headquarters | Greeley, Colorado , United States |
Area served | United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico |
Key people | Fabio Sandri (CEO) |
| Products | Chicken and poultry products |
| Owner | JBS S.A. (78.5%) |
Number of employees | 38,000 (2012) |
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation stands as a prominent American multinational food enterprise and ranks among the largest chicken producers in both the U.S. and Puerto Rico, while holding the position of the second-largest poultry producer in Mexico. Following its emergence from bankruptcy proceedings in 2009, the company shifted its U.S. headquarters to Greeley, Colorado in 2011. With a majority ownership stake of 78.5% held by JBS S.A., Pilgrim's Pride broadened its product offerings by acquiring Gold'n Plump for $350 million in 2016.
Description of firm
Employing roughly 38,000 individuals, Pilgrim's Pride generated $8.1 billion in revenue in 2012, operating facilities across 12 states within the U.S., as well as in Mexico and Puerto Rico. The company processes an estimated 36 million birds each week, resulting in an annual production of close to 9.5 billion pounds of live chicken. Its vertically integrated structure manages every step from "egg to table," optimizing operational effectiveness.
Pilgrim's Pride supplies products to leading foodservice and retail customers such as KFC, Walmart, Publix, Wendy's, and Costco—where it secured exclusivity for rotisserie chicken by 2012, supplying approximately 50 million marinated chickens annually.
Established in 1946 by entrepreneur Lonnie "Bo" Pilgrim alongside his brother Aubrey in Pittsburg, Texas, the company evolved from a feed store into a major poultry producer under Bo Pilgrim’s visionary guidance. Its integrated operations combined with robust customer partnerships offer a significant competitive edge within the meat processing sector.
Notable competitors include Sanderson Farms, Perdue Farms, and Tyson Foods.
News events in the 2000s–2020s
On October 12, 2002, Pilgrim's Pride initiated a recall involving 27.4 million pounds of sliced deli poultry due to contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, constituting the largest food recall in U.S. history at that time. This outbreak was linked to seven fatalities, 46 illnesses, and three miscarriages.
In 2003, the company expanded its range by acquiring Pierce Chicken, recognized for brands such as Wing Dings and Wing Zings.
An avian influenza outbreak occurred in May 2004 in Hopkins County, Texas, necessitating the culling of 24,000 breeder hens to halt disease spread.
In July 2004, following the release of undercover footage by PETA exposing animal cruelty at a Pilgrim's Pride facility in West Virginia, the company terminated eleven employees and instituted ongoing animal welfare training programs after pressure from key client Yum Brands.
Pilgrim's Pride also produces cattle feed in East Texas by converting non-edible chicken parts into livestock feed through protein conversion—a standard practice within the industry.
On December 4, 2006, Pilgrim's Pride completed its acquisition of Gold Kist at $21 per share after unanimous approval by its board of directors, further solidifying its leadership position in poultry production.
CEO O.B. Goolsby Jr. passed away on December 17, 2007. In April 2008, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted raids on several plants resulting in the arrest of 311 foreign workers suspected of identity theft; charges were filed against 91 individuals.
Amid financial difficulties, Pilgrim's Pride filed for bankruptcy protection on December 1, 2008.
In May 2014, Pilgrim's Pride made a $6.4 billion offer to acquire Hillshire Brands but withdrew after Tyson Foods raised their bid to $8.55 billion.
Co-founder Lonnie "Bo" Pilgrim died in July 2017 at age 89.
Fabio Sandri was appointed CEO on September 23, 2020, following Jayson Penn’s departure amid a price-fixing indictment. In February 2021, the company agreed to pay a $107 million penalty related to bid rigging and price-fixing allegations.
June 2021 saw Pilgrim's Pride acquire Kerry Group’s consumer foods meat and meals division, incorporating brands like Henry Denny & Sons and Wall's into its portfolio.
In May 2023, undercover video footage surfaced revealing concerns about pig stunning procedures at a UK slaughterhouse operated by Pilgrim's Pride, eliciting criticism over animal welfare standards.
In January 2025, Pilgrim's Pride donated $5 million to Donald Trump's second inauguration fund—the largest single contribution recorded. Subsequently in June 2025, JBS S.A., Pilgrim’s parent company, received approval for listing on the New York Stock Exchange. Senator Elizabeth Warren raised questions regarding whether this donation influenced regulatory decisions through a potential quid pro quo arrangement.
Acquisition by JBS S.A.
On September 17, 2009, JBS USA Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of the Brazilian global leader JBS S.A., recognized as the largest meat processing company worldwide by revenue, purchased a 64% stake in Pilgrim's Pride. Currently, JBS USA Holdings controls 78.5% ownership of the firm.
Subsequent to this takeover, Pilgrim's Pride shifted its corporate headquarters from Texas and Georgia to Greeley, Colorado. This relocation resulted in the elimination of 160 positions at the former offices located in Pittsburg and Mt. Pleasant, Texas, along with further job cuts at sites in Atlanta, Dallas, and Broadway, Virginia.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
In April 2020, Pilgrim's Pride experienced a COVID-19 outbreak at its Lufkin, Texas facility, leading to numerous infections and one fatality among employees. Testing conducted at the Moorefield plant in West Virginia revealed 18 positive cases out of 520 workers screened. By May 11, the Cold Spring plant in Minnesota reported 194 confirmed cases among roughly 1,100 staff members, triggering employee demonstrations calling for a temporary shutdown.
Additional infections were documented at plants in Chattanooga, Tennessee and Timberville, Virginia, where workers also staged protests. The company has not provided comprehensive figures regarding total cases at the Timberville location.