The 10 Largest Poultry Companies In The United States - Zippia (2024)

Cargill Meat Solutions

Wichita, KS
2022 sales: $165 billion

Known for their beef, turkey, and other food distribution services, Cargill is a big player in the meat industry as a whole. Cargill raises and processes poultry for sale, both directly to consumers and food companies. The company also also prepares food service solutions.

With their two-pronged service, they have risen to one of the top poultry companies from their humble start as a packing company in 1936.

Sysco Corp

Houston, TX
2022 sales: $68.636 billion

Sysco is a huge company whose operations cover a diverse range of food services. They provide food service for many other companies across various industries like restaurants, healthcare facilities, schools, and hotels.

Their operations cover both wholesale products and direct food service. When it comes to their poultry, they are known for selling a wide variety alongside chicken and turkey, plus they are able to sell specialty meats and cuts.

Tyson Foods

Springdale, AR
2022 sales: $53.282 billion

The US is the leader of poultry production in the world, so it’s no surprise that Tyson Foods ranks as the largest American and global poultry producer.

Tyson is known for its chicken products, like Buffalo wings, boneless Buffalo wings, chicken nuggets, and tenders, but it also works with beef and pork. Under the Tyson foods brand are the well-known names Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm, Ball Park, Wright Brand, Aidells, and State Fair.

They employ over 140,000 employees across their plants in 24 states including Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.

Pilgrim’s

Greeley, CO
2022 sales: $17.5 billion

Pilgrim’s is one of the largest poultry producers in the US that produces poultry exclusively. Under the Pilgrim’s brand are also labels like Just BARE Chicken, Gold’n Plump, Pierce Chicken, and Savoro.

Their poultry products go directly to consumers as well as to restaurants and food suppliers. Some of their famous buyers include Costco (for rotisserie chickens), Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), Walmart, Publix, and Wendy’s.

They employ over 35,000 people across their factories and divisions.

Hormel

Austin, Minnesota
2022 sales: $12.459 billion

Hormel is another huge company that you’re probably familiar with since it’s more consumer-facing than other companies on this list.

Their products are sold in grocery stores across the company, which includes products under the Hormel brand as well as their subsidiaries like Applegate, Country Crock, Jennie-O, and Spam.

With their wide offering of products under various brands, it’s no surprise that they’re one of the biggest poultry producers in the US.

Perdue Farms

Salisbury, MD
2022 sales: $8.9 billion

Perdue is mostly known for their chicken, but they also produce turkey and pork. The company produces raw meat products to sell in grocery stores as well as ready-made products like chicken nuggets and grilled chicken.

Perdue got its start as a family-run company in 1920 and members of the Perdue family still play large roles in its management and direction to this day. They employ around 21,000 people across their locations, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, North Carolina, and Kentucky.

OSI Group

Aurora, IL
2022 sales: $7.9 billion

OSI is an international corporation that has locations in 35 countries for a total of over 65 facilities. The company started in the US and has expanded by buying smaller meat producers. Their products include all kinds of meats, like poultry, beef, and pork.

OSI’s products go both directly to consumers through grocery stores and to third party restaurants and food vendors like Subway, Starbucks, Papa John’s Pizza, and Pizza Hut.

Unlike other companies on this list who are constantly battling lawsuits, customer complaints, and employee grievances about their environmental, health, and safety practices, OSI has received recognition from several organizations for their commitment to health and safety management as well as environmental management.

Koch Foods

Park Ridge, IL
2022 sales: $4.7 billion

Starting as a one-room chicken processing company in 1973, Koch Foods has grown into a hugely profitable business with locations in six states. Their company deals with poultry from raising to selling pre-made poultry foods.

They sell both raw poultry products and ready-made fresh and frozen foods for consumers under Koch Foods and their other labels, including Antioch Farms, Preferred Foods, and Rogers Royal.

Their sales also include large restaurant customers, like Burger King, Kroger, and Walmart. In all, they employ about 14,000 people across their locations in Illinois, Alabama, Ohio, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Georgia.

Mountaire Farms

Millsboro, Delaware
2022 sales: $2.4 billion

Founded in 1914, Mountaire Farms now sells their products across the US and even internationally. They provide both retail and wholesale products for various businesses.

On the retail side, they provide raw poultry products for grocery stores and other retailers while their wholesale products include both raw and pre-cooked products, including whole chickens, chicken tenders, and specific chicken parts in bulk.

Their wholesale operations are more robust with several different levels and qualities of service, like their Black Label and Gold Label lines for pre-trimmed products, and their halal line, Noor Al-Jabal.

Wayne Farms

Oakwood, GA
2022 sales: $2.2 billion

Since starting in 1965, Wayne Farms has grown to be an important American poultry producer. They cover all steps in poultry production, running hatcheries, feed mills, finishing farms, and processing facilities.

Their products are sold to retailers for consumers to buy directly and to food service operators for food preparation. Some of their pre-cooked offerings include chicken wings, grilled chicken and turkey, and breaded chicken tenders.

Wayne Farms employs around 10,000 people and operates facilities in Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Georgia.

Which country produces the most poultry?

The United States produces the most poultry, at 21 million tons in 2022. China used to be the largest producer in 2019, but China’s poultry production has declined significantly in the past few years. Here are the top three countries:

• United States

  Poultry produced in 2022: 21 million tons

• China

  Poultry produced in 2022: 14.3 million tons

• Brazil

  Poultry produced in 2022: 14.7 million tons

Which country exports the most poultry?

Brazil exports the most poultry in 2023, at 4.75 million metric tons. The United States is the second-largest exporter, partially because a lot of the US’ chicken is eaten domestically. Here is a list of the largest exporters in the world:

• Brazil

  Poultry exported in 2023: 4.75 million tons

• United States

  Poultry exported in 2023: 3.35 million tons

• European Union

  Poultry exported in 2023: 1.69 million tons

• Thailand

  Poultry exported in 2023: 1.03 million tons

• Turkey

  Poultry exported in 2023: 600 thousand tons