The U.S. poultry and feed industries were well represented on the Forbes America’s Best Large Employers list, which was recently released.
The Forbes list ranks companies primarily based on survey responses from more than 217,000 employees working at companies within the U.S. that employ more than 5,000 people.
To assess which employers met or exceeded workers’ expectations, Forbes partnered with market research firm Statista to produce Forbes’ 10th anniversary edition of America’s Best Large Employers. There were 701 companies that met the qualifying criteria to make the list.
Poultry and feed companies to make the list and their rankings are:
120. Mountaire
Mountaire, which is headquartered in Millsboro, Delaware, employs 10,298 people, according to data from the WATTPoultry.com Top Poultry Companies Database. It ranks as the 23rd largest poultry producer in the world. As a feed producer, it ranks 54th globally.
“We are proud to be recognized, but even more proud of the culture we’ve built at Mountaire,” said Amanda Irwin, company president. “We are blessed to have some of the best leaders in the industry who motivate their teams with integrity and respect. Our employees come first, and their commitment to excellence sets us apart.”
134. Cargill
Cargill, headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, employs approximately 160,000 employees globally.
The diversified company is involved in both poultry and feed production, among other business sectors. It ranks as the world’s fourth largest feed producer and the world’s 16th largest broiler producer. In the United States, it is the nation’s third largest turkey producer.
152. Seaboard Corporation
Seaboard Corporation, headquartered in Meeriam, Kansas, is also a diversified company with involvement in the pork, feed and turkey industries. It employs about 12,000 people.
It ranks as the world’s 82nd largest feed producer. It is also a non-controlling majority owner of U.S. turkey producer Butterball, which also made the Forbes list.
206. Butterball
Butterball, headquartered in Garner, North Carolina, employs about 6,000 people, according to Forbes. It ranks as the second largest turkey producer in the United States, according to the Top Poultry Companies Database.
332. House of Raeford Farms
House of Raeford Farms, headquartered in Rose Hill, North Carolina, is the ninth largest broiler producer in the United States. As a feed producer, it ranks as the 108th largest in the world.
556. Land O’Lakes
Land O'Lakes is the second largest feed producer in the United States and the eighth largest in the world.
Headquartered in Arden Hills, Minnesota, Land O’Lakes employs about 9,000 people.
653. National Beef Packing Company
National Beef Packing Company is a U.S. subsidiary of Marfrig Global Foods, the world’s 132nd largest feed producer.
658. Perdue Farms
Perdue Farms, based in Salisbury, Maryland, ranks as the United States’ fifth largest broiler producer and eighth largest turkey producer.
As a feed producer, the company ranks as the 65th largest in the world.
“This recognition is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our 21,000+ associates who bring their best every day to serve our farmers, customers, consumers, and one another,” the company posted on LinkedIn. “At Perdue, we are committed to creating an environment where people with diverse skill sets and interests can join, grow, and thrive in their careers. This honor reflects our ongoing dedication to providing opportunities for development and long-term success within our company.”
691. Kraft Heinz Company
Kraft Heinz is a former U.S. turkey producer, having ceased its turkey slaughter operations in 2023. However, it remains a further processor. The company is active in numerous food category sectors and has approximately 36,000 employees. It is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.
