PROCESSOR PROFILE Continual improvement Jensen Meat Co. utilizes multiple avenues to drive growth and become an overall better business BY BOB SIMS | bsims@sosland.com R Jensen Meat Co. installed solar panels as part of an initiative to offset its energy use. eggie Jensen founded San Diego-based Jensen Meat Co. in 1958. The company specializes in ground beef and produces 75 million lbs annually. The 150,000 squarefoot, modern, SQF 3 (Safe Quality Food) plant produces 300 SKUs consisting of both fresh and refrigerated - about 20% - and individually quick frozen (IQF) patties - about 80% - in varying shapes, sizes and lean-tofat ratios. Jensen manufactures value-added products for both private label and its own brands, and a small amount of turkey and pork sausage as well. A $9 million operations expansion in 2020 increased ground beef capacity and created 50 new jobs. It was part of a growth and 36 MEAT+POULTRY | 10.21 | www.meatpoultry.com improvement trajectory that seems to just be part of a business-as-usual approach that has seen the West Coast ground beef processor experience double-digit growth in recent years. " Newly created jobs encourage economic growth and improve local quality of life, " said Abel Olivera, chief executive officer at Jensen Meat Co. " As a provider to our schools and businesses - as well as to our national consumers - we see our mission and vision perfectly complemented by this next step. " Two IQF lines added 30 million lbs of capacity and a fresh processing room added 10 million lbs per year giving the company the tools to meet increased customer and consumer demand. The project pushed Jensen Photos: Jensen Meat Co.http://www.meatpoultry.com