Hormel Completes Sale of Whole-Bird Turkey Business to Life-Science Innovations

AUSTIN, Minn. — Hormel Foods Corporation has completed the sale of its whole-bird turkey business to Willmar, Minn.-based Life-Science Innovations (LSI).

LSI has taken ownership of an existing whole-bird production facility in Melrose, Minn., a feed mill in Swanville, Minn., and associated transportation assets. The production facility will now operate under the name Legacy Turkey; the Melrose, Minn., workforce has joined LSI as part of the transition. LSI has also assumed supply contracts with dedicated third-party hen growers.

Hormel Foods continues to own and use the Jennie-O brand name and produce ground turkey, deli meats, turkey burgers, turkey bacon, turkey franks and other turkey items for retail and foodservice customers. The company has also retained the right to sell Jennie-O Oven Ready whole turkey birds and turkey breasts. In addition, Hormel Foods continues to own and operate its other turkey production facilities, feed mills, transportation assets and live production operations associated with raising and processing turkeys for turkey products. 

The divesture reinforces the continued strategic shift Hormel Foods is making toward expanding its value-added protein portfolio and reducing its exposure to more volatile, commodity-driven businesses, said the company.

Financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed. More information about the transaction will be provided in Hormel’s next quarterly report, the company said.