Type: Public
On the web: http://www.pilgrimspride.com
Employees: 42,300
Employee growth: 2.6%

Pilgrim's Pride couldn't be blamed if it spread its tail feathers and did a barnyard strut. As one of the world's top chicken processors, the firm boasts operations in breeding, hatching, raising, processing, and distributing chicken. Prepared poultry products are sold under the Pilgrim's Pride and EatWellStayHealthy labels to retail food outlets and foodservice operators. It sells fresh and refrigerated whole and cut-up poultry, value-added prepared chicken, and deli products. Pilgrim's Pride also produces table eggs as well as chicken byproducts for use as animal feed. The company, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2008, emerged in late 2009 and sold a majority interest in the company to Brazil's JBS.

Key numbers for fiscal year ending September, 2010:
Sales: $6,881.6M
One year growth: (2.9%)
Net income: $87.1M

Officers:
President, CEO and Director: William W. (Bill) Lovette
EVP Operations: Walter F. Shafer
VP Corporate Communications and Investor Relations: Gary L. Rhodes

Competitors:
Perdue Incorporated
Sanderson Farms
Tyson Fresh Meats

© 2012 Hoover's, Inc. All rights reserved.