Founded in 1936, Smithfield Foods has grown into one of the world's largest pork processors and hog producers. The company's operations are divided into three main segments: Packaged Meats, Fresh Pork, and Hog Production. Its Packaged Meats segment is its highest-margin business, featuring a diverse portfolio of brands such as Cook's, Eckrich, Gwaltney, John Morrell, Krakus, and Nathan's Famous. Operating primarily in the United States and Mexico, Smithfield maintains a vertically integrated supply chain that includes company-owned farms, contract farmers, and extensive retail and foodservice distribution channels. In 2024, the company completed a carve-out of its European operations to its parent company, WH Group, before completing an initial public offering on the Nasdaq in early 2025.
