Smithfield Foods, Inc., is a pork producer and food-processing company based in Smithfield, Virginia. It operates as an independent subsidiary of the multinational conglomerate WH Group. Founded in 1936 as the Smithfield Packing Company by Joseph W. Luter and his son, the company is the largest pig and pork producer in the world. In 973,000-square-foot meat-processing plant in Tar Heel, North Carolina, was said to be the world’s largest, slaughtering 32,000 pigs a day.
The company traces its history to 1936, when Joseph W. Luter Sr. and his son, Joseph W. Luter Jr., opened the Smithfield Packing Company in Smithfield, Virginia. The men were working for the meatpacker P. D. Gwaltney, Jr. & Co. when they set up the company. Joseph W. Luter Jr. served as Smithfield’s chief executive officer (CEO) until his death in 1962.
His son, Joseph W. Luter III, was at Wake Forest University at the time and joined Smithfield that year. Joseph W. Luter III told Virginia Living that the company was killing around 3,000 hogs a day when he took over, and 5,000 by the time he left in January 1970, while the number of employees rose from 800 to 1,400.
The company operates in all stages of pork production, including hog farming, processing, and distribution. Smithfield’s success can be attributed to its vertically integrated business model, which allows for greater control over the entire supply chain. This integration ensures consistent quality, cost efficiencies, and the ability to adapt quickly to market trends. Smithfield is also committed to sustainability and animal welfare, which has helped to build trust among consumers and solidify its market position.
According to en.wikipedia.org; indexbox.io. Source of photos: internet
