Hormel Foods Corporation, a Fortune 500 global branded food company, announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its whole-bird turkey business to Life-Science Innovations (LSI). The transaction is expected to close by the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2026 for Hormel Foods, subject to customary closing conditions. 

"Our strategy for sustainable, profitable growth centers on expanding our value-added protein portfolio to meet evolving consumer needs, while reducing our exposure to more volatile, commodity-driven businesses," said Jeff Ettinger, interim chief executive officer, Hormel Foods. "We are confident that this portion of our legacy turkey business will be in good hands under LSI's ownership, given their deep experience and expertise in this area."

In the transaction, LSI will acquire assets from Hormel Foods, including the Melrose, Minnesota, whole-bird production facility; Swanville, Minnesota, feed mill; and associated transportation assets. LSI will also assume supply contracts with third-party turkey growers that are dedicated to the whole-bird business and provide co-manufacturing services to Hormel Foods through the end of its fiscal 2026, to provide uninterrupted fulfillment of customer orders during the transition. 

Backed by more than 80 years of experience in the turkey industry, from hatching through processing, and strengthened by longstanding partnerships including Turkey Valley Farms in Marshall, Minnesota, LSI brings a proven legacy of expertise to the agriculture and poultry sectors.

"This agreement is a continuation of a 75-year relationship with Jennie-O," said Richard Huisinga, chief executive officer, LSI. "We are excited to combine the country's newest, state-of-the-art hen plant, the Minnesota hen-grower families and our recent first-of-its-kind turkey hatchery."

The broader array of JENNIE-O branded products, and ownership of the JENNIE-O brand name, are not impacted by the transaction.

"This transaction is an important next step in our evolution," said John Ghingo, president, Hormel Foods. "With a more focused turkey portfolio, we will continue strengthening the value-added aspects of our JENNIE-O business. We look forward to working with LSI to ensure a smooth transition for our team members, customers, consumers and suppliers."

About Hormel Foods 
Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minnesota, is a global branded food company with approximately $12 billion in annual revenue. Its brands include PLANTERS, SKIPPY, SPAM, HORMEL NATURAL CHOICE, APPLEGATE, JUSTIN'S, WHOLLY, HORMEL BLACK LABEL, COLUMBUS, JENNIE-O and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named one of the best companies to work for by U.S. News & World Report, one of America's most responsible companies by Newsweek, recognized by TIME magazine as one of the World's Best Companies and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement — Inspired People. Inspired Food. — to bring some of the world's most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe.