Perdue to Buy Natural Meat Maker & Chipotle Pork Supplier Niman Ranch

Perdue and LNK Partners announced today that Natural Food Holdings, including the well-known Niman Ranch® brand, is being purchased by Perdue.“This represents the next chapter in our growth through premium proteins and trusted brands,” said Perdue Farms Chairman Jim Perdue. “The Niman Ranch brand continues our commitment to raising animals without antibiotics or artificial growth stimulants, and to responsible food and agriculture.”

LNK Partners, a private equity firm, is selling Natural Food Holdings to Perdue for an undisclosed amount. The two companies signed a definitive agreement for the sale and expect to close the transaction soon.

Niman Ranch began in the early 1970s on a small ranch in California, and has grown to include more than 700 independent family farmers and ranchers, spread across the country. The Niman Ranch brand covers a complete line of pork, beef, lamb, cage-free eggs and a variety of smoked and cured meats. All products are sourced from animals raised to high welfare standards and without any antibiotics.

“With the long, family-owned heritage of our company, we understand and respect what Niman Ranch represents,” said Jim Perdue. “All Niman Ranch livestock will continue to be raised by the same small family farmers and ranchers, following the same protocols, and with the same focus on sustainability.”

“We are excited to become part of Perdue,” said Jeff Swain, Natural Food Holdings’ Chief Executive Officer. “With Perdue being a family-owned business and the Perdue commitment to responsible food and agriculture, it was the perfect fit to help us continue to grow and prosper while staying true to our brand’s mission.”

Through the acquisition, Perdue also acquired the Prairie Grove brand and the SiouxPreme Packing plants in Sioux City and Sioux Center, Iowa.

“This is more than adding volume and capacity,” said Randy Day, President, Perdue Foods. “This acquisition is an important step forward in growing our pork business through premium brands with high standards for animal welfare and sustainable agricultural practices. We hope to grow the number of family farmers in the Niman Ranch network, and expand distribution into more cities across the country, thereby reaching more consumers and providing greater access to sustainably produced meat.”

Perdue’s food brands include PERDUE®, PERDUE® SIMPLY SMART® NO ANTIBIOTICS EVER™ chicken, PERDUE® HARVESTLAND® NO ANTIBIOTICS EVER™ chicken, turkey and pork, COLEMAN® NATURAL® and COLEMAN PREMIUM ® NO ANTIBIOTICS EVER™ meats, COLEMAN® ORGANIC® chicken and several local West Coast brands of organic, NO ANTIBIOTICS EVER™ and all-natural chicken. Since acquiring Coleman Natural Foods in 2011, Perdue has become the leading producer of USDA-certified organic chicken and of chicken raised without any antibiotics, and has expanded into NO ANTIBIOTICS EVER™ pork.

“We want to become better, not just bigger,” said Perdue. “The acquisition of Natural Food Holdings supports our direction forward as we continually elevate our products and production practices.”

“The promise of each of the brands, our relationship with family farmers and the value we bring to customers and consumers will not change,” said Day. “Through this merger, we’ll learn from each other to get better at everything we do.”

About Perdue Farms

Perdue Farms is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for everyone we touch through innovative food and agricultural products. Since our beginning on Arthur Perdue’s farm in 1920, to our expansion into agribusiness and the introduction of the PERDUE® brand of chicken and turkey under Frank Perdue, and continuing with our third generation of leadership with Chairman Jim Perdue, we’ve remained family owned and family operated. We are the parent company of Perdue Foods and Perdue AgriBusiness. Through our PERDUE® SIMPLY SMART®, PERDUE® HARVESTLAND®, COLEMAN PREMIUM® and COLEMAN ORGANIC® food brands; agricultural products and services; and stewardship and corporate responsibility programs, we are working to become the most-trusted name in food and agricultural products. Learn more about Perdue Farms and our Corporate Responsibility Report at www.perduefarms.com.

About Niman Ranch

Niman Ranch is a network of more than 700 sustainable U.S. family farmers and ranchers who raise livestock traditionally, humanely and sustainably to deliver the finest-tasting proteins. Niman Ranch’s independent family farmers practice the highest standards of animal husbandry and environmental stewardship. Niman Ranch’s fresh, smoked and prepared meats are available at fine restaurants and select grocery stores nationwide.

About LNK Partners

LNK Partners is a private equity firm focused on backing strong management teams who are building outstanding consumer and retail businesses. LNK is highly flexible in the type and structure of its investments, and is comfortable being a minority or majority shareholder. The firm typically invests up to $150 million of equity per transaction. LNK’s partners have extensive experience successfully investing in, operating, or serving on the boards of many leading consumer and retail businesses, including Staples, Quaker Oats, Pepsi, Gatorade, Panera Bread, Life Time Fitness, Levi Strauss, PVH/Tommy Hilfiger/Calvin Klein, Campbell’s, Pepperidge Farm, Godiva, and Yankee Candle. To learn more, please visit LNKpartners.com.

SOURCE: Perdue Press Release