Smithfield beefs up operations - Smithfield Foods acquisitions - Brief Article

Eurofood, Oct 11, 2001

Leading pork producer in the US Smithfield Foods has announced that it intends to buy country ham producer Stadler's Country Hams and RHM Foods, the producer of Quick-n-Easy meat entree brands. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

This is the latest in a series of acquisitions for Smithfield aimed at expanding its meat operations, following its earlier failure to buy beef and pork processor IBP.

Last month, it agreed to buy US beef packer Packerland, for US$250m (272m [European Dollar]) and in addition bought Moyer Packing Co., Gorges/Quik-to-Fix Foods and a 50% stake in Pinnacle Foods.