Smithfield Foods' President and CEO Dennis Organ Appoints New Executive Leadership Team

Smithfield Foods announced new executive leadership appointments following Dennis Organ's recent assumption of the president and chief executive officer role.

"These key leaders represent decades of collective company and industry expertise. It is a testament to our depth and strength at Smithfield that such talented individuals are within our ranks," Mr. Organ said. "Building on our guiding principles of Responsibility, Operational Excellence and Innovation, this team will...

Anti-Meat Activist Poses as Smithfield Foods CEO on National Television 

Last week, animal activist Matt Johnson of Direct Action Everywhere, posed as the CEO of Smithfield Foods during a national television interview with Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo. On December 23, 2020, Bartiromo thought she was speaking with Smithfield Foods CEO Dennis Organ. However, she and her audience were being misled. 

During the interview, Johnson blamed animal agriculture for new infectious diseases and made false claims that the Centers for Disease Control has data proving that the livestock industry would...

Dominion Energy, Smithfield Foods Complete Renewable Natural Gas Project in Utah

Dominion Energy and Smithfield Foods, Inc., announced they have completed the first renewable natural gas (RNG) project through their joint venture, Align Renewable Natural Gas℠. Located in Milford in southwestern Utah, the project is now producing RNG from a network of 26 family farms that raise hogs under contract with Smithfield.

The project is the first large-scale effort in the state to capture methane from hog farming operations and convert it into clean energy for homes, businesses and transportation. Significantly more...

Smithfield Foods Provides Update on President and Chief Executive Officer Succession

Smithfield Foods, Inc. provided an update on its succession progress following its announcement last month that Kenneth M. Sullivan, president and chief executive officer (CEO), would retire from the company and Dennis Organ, chief operating officer, U.S. operations, would succeed him.

Transition activities are moving forward approximately one month ahead of schedule, facilitated by the close working relationship and shared...

Smithfield Foods Announces Planned Retirement of President and CEO Kenneth M. Sullivan in 2021

Smithfield Foods, Inc. today announced that Kenneth M. Sullivan, president and chief executive officer, will retire from the company, effective in early 2021, following a distinguished four-decade-long career – nearly half of which were spent at Smithfield. Dennis Organ, chief operating officer, U.S. operations, will succeed Mr. Sullivan as president and chief executive officer upon his retirement.

"It has been a great honor and privilege to lead Smithfield for the past five years. As a leading global food and agriculture company, we have an incredibly important role to play in society. It is an obligation we have proudly embraced over our more than 80-year history. We have persevered through an extraordinary time in 2020...

Smithfield Foods Launches New Power Bites

The Smithfield brand announced that all new Power Bites are here. Power Bites are a breakfast bite of real sausage, egg, and cheese you can eat anywhere. Offered in portable packaging, Power Bites make meal-time awesome for meat lovers. They pack all your favorite ingredients into one bite to provide a boost of flavor and protein. The brand-new line hitting shelves this fall is available in three flavors: Homestyle, Western Style and Meat Lovers.

Smithfield Power Bites require almost zero prep to accommodate active and busy lifestyles; simply heat for 45 seconds in the microwave and eat right out of the container – no fork required. All varieties are fully cooked and made with...

NAMI Responds to Washington Post Article on OSHA Citations 

The Washington Post article discussed below was not featured on Urner Barry's sites. 

The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today said the Washington Post missed the real story regarding the Occupational and Safety Health Administration’s (OSHA) citations of two meat packing companies related to COVID-19:

Kim Kindy of the Washington Post has written a story critical of OSHA’s citations of two meat packing plants. We agree OSHA deserves criticism, but for different reasons. OSHA’s citations against Smithfield Foods and JBS Foods are both confusing and revisionist.

Kindy neglects to look at the timeline. Let us review...

Smithfield Foods to Become Carbon Negative by 2030

Smithfield Foods, Inc. announced a commitment to becoming carbon negative in all company-owned operations in the United States by 2030. A leader in sustainability for more than two decades, the company will go beyond carbon neutrality to effectively remove more carbon from the atmosphere than it emits. It will achieve this goal without purchasing carbon credits to offset emissions.

"As the world grapples with environmental challenges impacting our planet, consumers are looking to companies to take deliberate, bold action to address issues such as climate change," said Kenneth M. Sullivan, president and chief executive officer, Smithfield Foods. "The world is at an inflection point. To feed a growing world population, with finite resources available to grow and produce the food we need, we must...

Eckrich Debuts New Packaging for Deli Products in Stores Nationwide

Eckrich is introducing bold new packaging for the Deli collection which will begin rolling out in stores nationwide this month.

Through both qualitative and quantitative market research, Eckrich successfully created a design that breathes new energy into the heritage brand with a modern, approachable look, all with its key consumer top of mind. The designs feature a white background and crisp imagery, displaying the product and information in an organized, eye-catching way. The imagery also...

Smithfield Foods' Adjusted Operating Results Swing to Loss in Second Quarter Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Smithfield Foods, Inc. announced that it has spent $350 million to protect its team members and the American food supply during the COVID-19 pandemic, causing adjusted operating results to swing to a loss in the second quarter of 2020.

At Smithfield, the first half of 2020 was "a tale of two tapes": pre-pandemic and pandemic. Prior to the onset of COVID-19 in the U.S., Smithfield delivered record results in the first quarter of 2020, which were 190 percent higher than 2019. However, the impact of the pandemic weighed heavily on the company's second quarter, pushing adjusted operating results 140 percent below...

Carando Introduces New Calzone Products 

Carando, a brand of Smithfield Foods, is venturing further into the deli section with the addition of handheld, fully-cooked calzones. The new line features three mouth-watering flavors to tantalize every palate, including Pepperoni, Meatball, and Chicken Parmesan. Known for its authentic Italian flavors, the calzones offer consumers a simple, no-prep meal without skimping on taste.

"As a leader in Italian meats, we are excited to expand our portfolio and bring more of the traditional taste of Carando to consumers," said Diane Purnell, brand manager for Carando at Smithfield Foods. "Our new fully-cooked calzones offer convenient, on-the-go options for...

Smithfield Foods Releases 2019 Sustainability Impact Report

Smithfield Foods, Inc. today released its 2019 Sustainability Impact Report, demonstrating significant progress in reaching major milestones and continuing efforts to feed the world’s population in a responsible way. Smithfield’s industry-leading sustainability program operates across five key pillars, representing areas of strategic focus that are important to its business, communities and society-at-large. These include the humane treatment of animals, stewardship of the environment, production of safe and high-quality food, contributions to strengthen its local communities and safety and well-being of its people.

“2020 has presented the world with an unprecedented crisis that is impacting the health, well-being and sustainability of people, communities and businesses everywhere. In turn, we have seen an increased reliance upon critical industries and companies to provide essential products and services at...

Smithfield Foods to Reopen Sioux Falls, South Dakota Facility

Smithfield Foods, Inc. announced that it will begin resuming operations in Sioux Falls, S.D. today after receiving positive confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that the company is in full compliance with all CDC and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidance. The company will take a phased approach to resuming its operations. The harvest floor will reopen on May 11, 2020 and the company anticipates that the facility will be fully operational by late May.

Testing, which is being administered by the State of South Dakota, is available to all Smithfield employees prior to returning to work. To date, over 2,000 employees have been tested. More tests will be conducted in the coming weeks as...

Smithfield Foods to Temporarily Close Monmouth, IL Plant

Smithfield Foods, Inc. announced that it will proactively suspend operations at its Monmouth, IL facility beginning next week and until further notice after a small portion of its 1,700 employees tested positive for COVID-19. The Monmouth plant represents approximately three percent of U.S. fresh pork supplies and also produces bacon. Employees will be paid during the closure.

Smithfield noted that it has been proactively and aggressively tackling COVID-19 by implementing processes, protocols and protective measures throughout its operations and remains wholly committed to doing everything in its power to help protect its team members from COVID-19 in the workplace. At the same time, it stressed that...

4 of the Biggest Takeaways From the CDC's Report on Smithfield Foods' Sioux Falls Plant

Earlier this month Smithfield Foods closed their pork processing plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, after hundreds of employees tested positive for the coronavirus. With a number of fishing seasons set to begin in the next few weeks, including salmon in Alaska and snow crab in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, we’re looking at what seafood processing facilities can learn from the CDC’s latest recommendation for Smithfield Foods.

The Smithfield Foods plant in South Dakota employs about 3,700 people. Smithfield initially kept..

Smithfield Foods to Suspend Production at Sioux Falls Facility 

Smithfield Foods, Inc. announced that it will close its Sioux Falls, SD facility for three days. The company will suspend operations in a large section of the plant on April 11 and completely shutter on April 12 and April 13. Smithfield is taking this action out of an abundance of caution for its 3,700 employees in Sioux Falls, a portion of whom have tested positive for COVID-19.

During this time, essential personnel will repeat the rigorous deep cleaning and sanitization that have been ongoing at the facility and install additional physical barriers to further enhance social distancing. Employees will be paid for any previously scheduled hours during the temporary closure.

“Smithfield Foods is taking the utmost precautions and actions to ensure the health and wellbeing of our employees – with an even increased emphasis on...

Statement by Smithfield Foods Regarding North Carolina Lawsuit Appeal

A panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, comprised of Judge G. Steven Agee, Judge Stephanie D. Thacker and Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, heard oral argument in the company’s appeal of the first of a series of trials in the North Carolina hog farm nuisance litigation. These lawsuits threaten animal agriculture, rural North Carolina’s economy and the thousands of hard-working farmers who own and operate family farms in full compliance with federal, state and local regulations.

“This suit is the tip of a spear aimed at North Carolina’s agricultural economy,” the company’s appeal brief says. “…A great deal depends on the outcome of these...