Hormel Foods Acquires Brakebush Brothers for $1.06 Billion

Hormel Foods announced the acquisition of Brakebush Brothers, a family-owned chicken processor, in a deal valued at $1.06 billion. The move is designed to expand the company's protein portfolio to meet rising consumer demand for protein-rich meals linked to health and wellness trends.

Based in Westfield, Wisconsin, Brakebush Brothers has been operated by the Brakebush family since 1925. The company specializes in processed raw and cooked chicken products, including nuggets, wings, and patties, and generated nearly $1.2 billion in net sales over the last 12 months.

Hormel expects the transaction to close in the first quarter of fiscal year 2027, with contributions to adjusted earnings per share starting in fiscal 2028. This acquisition follows a period of financial volatility for Hormel, which recently reduced its annual sales forecast after missing third-quarter estimates.