Number One Pork Provider Enters Year with Customer Centric Critical Thinking and Innovative Solutions
With pork dubbed the protein star of 2014 in food trend predictions, Smithfield Farmland Foodservice Group approaches the year with more innovation than ever providing foodservice customers with all things pork. The recent combination of Smithfield Packing Company and Farmland Foods means more insights and opportunities for customers, just in time for a spike in the pork industry.
“The combination of two brands that form Smithfield Farmland Foodservice Group means highly differentiated pork products as well as an increase in strategic thinking and more value to the customer,” Jerry Lamb, Vice President and General Manager-Foodservice at Smithfield Farmland Foodservice Group, said. “As the two brands come together, foodservice customers have access to the ultimate choice in unmatched product offerings. We are a customer partner, dedicated to helping customers grow their business while offering critical thinking and solutions on an even larger scale.”
Recent data from Technomic reports that pork volume at limited-service restaurants increased by 2.6 percent over the past two years. Additionally, Food Genius, a data monitoring resource that tracks online ordering websites, reports that pork has become the second most popular sandwich protein after chicken. Taking advantage of the trend, foodservice operators are extending pork’s reach to the center-of-the-plate with alternative cuts and unique combinations. Smithfield Farmland Foodservice Group has proven itself a key partner in innovation, providing custom-fit solutions for operators’ unique menuing needs.
Assets such as Smithfield Farmland’s pilot plant allow the company to provide custom pork solutions, as the plant fosters aggressive product development on a small scale. The plant provides an opportunity for innovation without product waste. In collaboration with the pilot plant, Smithfield Farmland Foodservice Group offers extensive research and development capabilities utilizing in-house chefs as well as the creative development of chef customers. And with an Advisory Board of five executive chefs and restaurant owners, the company can leverage trends in real-time, offering relevant products and information to the foodservice community.
Smithfield Farmland Foodservice Group offers a spectrum of the finest fresh and processed pork products with a commitment to lead the way with critical thinking at every stage of the process – research and development, innovation, culinary, sustainability and environmental stewardship. For more information about Smithfield Farmland Foodservice Group, visit www.SmithfieldFarmlandFoodservice.com.
About Smithfield Farmland Foodservice Group
The leading resource for comprehensive pork products and services, Smithfield Farmland Foodservice Group offers its customers the competitive advantage they need in today’s challenging foodservice environment. Smithfield Farmland’s powerful brands represent the ultimate in quality, selection and versatility, through the Farmland brand featuring the perfect product mix for professional operators, to the Smithfield line, offering an exceptional, premium selection for the discerning chef.
Smithfield Farmland Foodservice Group is committed to constantly improving and expanding their product line to meet today’s consumers’ tastes through extensive research and development via their two Innovation Centers, on-staff corporate chefs, culinary experts, and more. With a wealth of knowledge of the newest industry trends, Smithfield Farmland is an operator partner, sharing new opportunities, on-trend menuing ideas, and the most innovative, culinary know-how. No one offers more successful business building solutions than Smithfield Farmland Foodservice Group. For more information about Smithfield Farmland Foodservice Group, visit www.SmithfieldFarmlandFoodservice.com.
About Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods is a $13 billion global food company and the world’s largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield, Eckrich, Farmland, Armour, Cook’s, Gwaltney, John Morrell, Kretschmar, Curly’s, Carando, Margherita, and Healthy Ones. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental, and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com and www.smithfieldcommitments.com.
