Wayne Farms
| Company type | Private (joint venture) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Poultry production and processing |
| Predecessor | ContiGroup (division) |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Founder | D.W. McMillen (brand origin 1916) |
| Fate | Merged with Sanderson Farms in 2022 to form Wayne-Sanderson Farms |
| Successor | Wayne-Sanderson Farms (joint venture) |
| Headquarters | Oakwood, Georgia , United States |
Area served | Southeastern United States, worldwide |
| Products | Fresh, frozen, boneless, and fully prepared poultry products |
| Owner | Cargill and Continental Grain Co. (ContiGroup) (joint venture) |
| Website | www |
Wayne Farms LLC is a poultry production and processing company headquartered in Oakwood, Georgia, United States. Formerly a division of ContiGroup until 2022, Wayne Farms manages hatcheries, feed production facilities, finishing farms, and operates 13 processing plants throughout the southeastern region of the U.S. The enterprise delivers a variety of fresh, frozen, boneless, and fully prepared poultry products worldwide to both retail markets and foodservice providers, marketed under the Wayne Farms and Platinum Harvest labels.
On July 22, 2022, Wayne Farms combined operations with Sanderson Farms, resulting in the creation of Wayne-Sanderson Farms, a joint venture governed by Cargill and Conti (also recognized as Continental Grain Co. or ContiGroup).
History
The roots of Wayne Farms date back to 1895 with its beginnings in feed milling. The 'Wayne' feed brand was launched by D.W. McMillen in 1916 and eventually lent its name to the company. In 1965, after Continental Grain Co. acquired a majority 51% interest, Allied Mills separated its poultry segment to form what became Wayne Farms.
Growth was achieved through the acquisition of multiple processing facilities located in Albertville, Alabama, Union Springs, Alabama, Danville, Arkansas, Laurel, Mississippi, Decatur, Alabama, Dobson, North Carolina, Pendergrass, Georgia, Enterprise, Alabama, College Park, Georgia, and Dothan, Alabama. The Dutch Quality House brand originated in 1978 and was incorporated into Wayne Farms’ portfolio in 1985 following the purchase of a plant in Oakwood, Georgia. Further expansions included acquiring plants in Bossier City, Louisiana and Douglas, Georgia, as well as constructing two new facilities in Decatur. The Bossier City operation was divested in 2005; the Dutch Quality House brand was discontinued in 2017.
In September 2021, an announcement outlined intentions to merge Sanderson Farms with Wayne Farms; this consolidation was finalized in July 2022 with the establishment of Wayne-Sanderson Farms.
See also
External links
- Companies based in Hall County, Georgia
- Food manufacturers of the United States
- Agriculture companies of the United States
- Brand name poultry meats
- Poultry companies
- Poultry farming in the United States
- Meat companies of the United States
- American companies established in 1965
- Agriculture companies established in the 1960s
- Food and drink companies established in 1965
- 1965 establishments in Alabama
- 2022 mergers and acquisitions
- Yell County, Arkansas