About Us

Hometown roots. Global reach. 

At Smithfield Foods, we’re helping to feed a world of nearly 8 billion people. We provide families with wholesome, safe and affordable food while finding new and innovative ways to minimize the impact our operations have on the planet. It’s our responsibility, and our promise. We're found on tables everywhere

"Good" is what we do.

Our Smithfield Family is made up of good people. “Good” describes everything we do and it’s an integral part of who we are. From our commitment to safety, diversity, and inclusion in our workforce to doing our part to support the communities in which we operate in and beyond, we’re committed to making a difference.

See how we're doing "good"

What Drives Us

  “Good food. Responsibly.®” is more than something we say – it's how we approach our work.

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Our Mission

To produce good food the right way with respect for our people, animals, communities and planet.

Our Vision

With our culture of responsibility, operational excellence and innovation, we will be a trusted food and protein company as we sustainably feed people around the world.

Our Principles

Our business decisions are guided by our principles. Everything we do, every action we take, starts with these.

Responsibility

We accept responsibility in everything we do. We do business the right way by treating employees well, treating our animals with respect, and leading in sustainability. We have an awesome responsibility for food safety. Together, we will deliver on the promise of “Good food. Responsibly.®”

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Operational Excellence

Our pursuit of operational excellence is unrelenting. We tirelessly seek out opportunities to improve the way we do business in such areas as customer service, on-time delivery, product quality, and product consistency.

Innovation

Innovation is part of our DNA. We seek fresh ideas in all aspects of business, including ways to work smarter, serve customers better, and make Smithfield a better company.

Our History

Our Hometown Roots

Our company traces its history back to 1936, when Joseph W. Luter Sr. and his son, Joseph W. Luter Jr., opened the Smithfield Packing Company in Smithfield, Virginia.

A family business

They built the Smithfield Packing Company plant in 1946 on Highway 10. By 1959, their workforce had grown to 650.

Generation to generation

Joseph W. Luter Jr. was Smithfield's CEO until his death in 1962. His son, Joseph W. Luter III joined Smithfield that year and by 1966 was chairman and CEO. In 1969 he sold Smithfield to Liberty Equities.

The legacy continues

Luter III was CEO 1975-2006 and chairman until the company was sold to WH Group in 2013. His son, Joseph W. Luter IV, became an executive VP of Smithfield Foods in 2008 and president of Smithfield Packing Company.

Main St. presence

In 2012 the company opened a restaurant, Taste of Smithfield, in Smithfield, Virginia, in the same Main Street building as its retail store, The Genuine Smithfield Ham Shoppe.

Global growth

In 2016, Smithfield had 50,200 employees in the US, Mexico and Europe.

A culinary force

In early 2019, Smithfield re-branded its food-service business, Smithfield Farmland, as Smithfield Culinary, with a chef-led advisory board.

Impactful packaging improvements

In 2009, a smaller packaging for the Armour-Eckrich brand smoked sausages reduced the plastic film and corrugated cardboard usage by over 840,000 pounds per year.

Reducing plastic packaging

In 2010 Smithfield facilities and brands reduced plastic use by 40,600 pounds a year, used 17% less plastic, and eliminated 20,000 pounds of corrugated material.

A commitment to sustainability

In 2010, Dennis Treacy, the company’s first chief sustainability officer, formalized the company’s sustainability practices under six pillars.

Innovating for the future

In 2020, Smithfield Foods became the first major protein company to commit to becoming carbon negative in all company-owned, US operations by 2030.

Helping Our Heroes

In 2020, the company also launched Helping Our Heroes, a new initiative developed to support American veterans in the workplace. 

Expanding our sustainability promise

In 2021, Smithfield broadened its greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction commitment to 30% by 2030 across its entire U.S. value chain; with a new goal to obtain 50% of its electricity from renewable sources over the same time period. 

New commitments to sustainability

New commitments launched in the 2020 Sustainability Impact Report including an expanded sustainability platform with three new pillars in diversity, equity and inclusion; health and wellness; and worker health and safety.

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