Meat+Poultry - July 2017 - 90

C O R P O R AT E S P O T L I G H T

Foodservice represents
27 percent of Hormel
Foods' portfolio and
is a key growth target
for the company.

strategic acquisitions. The company is looking
for acquisition targets both in the United States
and internationally with a focus on Asia and
South America, Snee said during a presentation
at the Consumer Analyst Group of Europe
conference in London.
"We haven't done exclusively an
international acquisition; we'd love to do
that," he noted. "Quite frankly, we haven't
done anything to support our very successful
foodservice business. We'd love to be able to
support and scale that in some other areas,
because everything they've done has been on
an organic basis."

NEW BEGINNINGS

Hormel is
looking for
acquisition
targets both
in the United
States and
internationally
with a focus
on Asia and
South America.

90

A positive for Jennie-O Turkey Store is the
successful start of construction on a new
processing plant in Melrose, Minnesota.
Hormel Foods is set to invest more than
$137 million in state-of-the-art processing
equipment that will enable the company to
increase production capabilities and enhance
plant efficiency and the company's animal
handling practices.
The new plant, which will process mostly
whole birds, replaces an existing company
plant in Melrose, however the current plant will
remain in operation during the construction
process. Hormel executives expect the new
facility to be completed by early 2019. The
existing plant will be partially torn down, and
the remaining structure will be used for further
value-added products.
"While our emphasis at Jennie-O Turkey
Store is on value-added products, whole birds
are an important part of the turkey supply
chain," Snee said. "The new plant will increase
operational efficiency through an improved
layout and will also automate some of the
most difficult production jobs. Construction

MEAT+ POULTRY | 07.17 | www.meatpoultry.com

begins this year, and we expect the plant to be
operational in early 2019."

BLACK LABEL BUST-UP
Separately Hormel Foods became entangled
in a legal tussle with St. Louis, Missouri-based
Nestle Purina Petcare Co.
Hormel, which has sold bacon under the
"Black Label" mark since 1963, claimed in a
trademark infringement lawsuit that Purina's
new line of Beggin' brand bacon-shaped pet
treats sold under the Black Label designation
is likely to "... cause confusion, mistake, or
deception in the market as to the source,
origin, sponsorship, or approval..." of Purina's
products and could imply that the dog treats
are connected to, associated or affiliated with
Hormel Foods and the company's Black Label
bacon products.
"Hormel Foods has used its Black Label
mark in connection with bacon for more
than 50 years, promotes the Black Label
bacon brand very actively, and owns long
established rights for the mark," the company
said in a statement. "Because our brands and
trademarks represent a standard of quality
and value to our consumers, customers, and
shareholders, willful unauthorized use of our
Black Label mark is taken very seriously, and
we will protect our brand vigorously."
In response, Purina expressed confidence
that consumers would not confuse the Purina
pet treats with Hormel's Black Label bacon.
"Black label is a term widely used across
industries - for products like alcohol, food,
clothing and cars - to designate premium
quality," Purina said in a statement.
Hormel has asked the court to bar Purina
from using the Black Label mark. The company
also has asked for a jury trial, monetary damages
and taxable costs and attorneys' fees.
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