Cargill, Continental Grain takeover of Sanderson Farms finally over line

The delayed takeover of US poultry processor Sanderson Farms by local agri-food giant Cargill and investor Continental Grain has finally completed.

First announced last August, the US$4.5bn deal was reviewed by the Department of Justice (DoJ) because of anti-trust concerns after President Biden expressed dismay over the concentration of the US meat sector in the hands of a few major players.

There were even suggestions the deal might not be able to proceed.

But following reports of discussions between the would-be buyers and the DoJ – apparently around how farmers and workers are paid – the deal has been signed off.

The DoJ has not yet commented on the merger agreement – announced on Friday (22 July) – or whether concessions were made. Just Food has asked it for its response.

Following the takeover, Sanderson Farms is to be combined with Wayne Farms, a subsidiary of Continental Grain. The new business, named Wayne-Sanderson Farms, will be headquartered in Oakwood, Georgia. Clint Rivers, CEO of Wayne Farms, will become CEO of the combined company.

Rivers said: “I am honoured to lead the new Wayne-Sanderson Farms, which brings together a talented team with complementary operations and cultures and a strong commitment to employees, farmers and the communities where we operate.”

Wayne-Sanderson Farms will operate chicken processing plants and prepared foods plants across Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Texas.

Sanderson Farms CEO Joe Sanderson, Jr. said: “It has been an incredible privilege to lead the Sanderson Farms team over the last 33 years and to continue my family’s legacy by helping to nourish families across the country. I am proud of all we have achieved together, and I am confident that the fairness, honesty and integrity that has been synonymous with the Sanderson Farms name will carry on with Wayne-Sanderson Farms.”

Sanderson Farms attests to being the third-largest US poultry firm, with sales in its 2020 fiscal year exceeding $3.5bn. Wayne Farms claims to be the seventh-largest poultry processor in the US, with annual sales of more than $2bn.

Privately-owned Cargill is one of the largest beef processors in the US.