West Liberty Foods has entered into an agreement to purchase the assets of Crystal Lake Farms and Free Ranger.
This acquisition will include both breeding stock and processing plant assets to allow West Liberty Foods to produce free range, slower-growing chickens.
“The acquisition of Crystal Lake Farms and Free Ranger is another exciting step for West Liberty Foods,” said Ed Garrett, CEO for West Liberty Foods. “This expansion of our business will allowus to meet the growing consumer demand for humanely grown, pasture-raised poultry.”
The Crystal Lake Farms broilers carry a Step 4 rating from the Global Animal Partnership (GAP), meaning the chickens are raised with pasture-centered, animal-welfare-friendly farming practices, West Liberty Foods stated in a press release.
“I am excited about the transaction and with West Liberty Foods and the manufacturing expertise they deliver,” said Blake Evans, President of Crystal Lake Farms. “The company will continue to innovate around the breed, feed, and growing environment.”
Headquartered in West Liberty, Iowa, West Liberty Foods specializes in slicing and co-packing cooked red meat and poultry products. As a turkey processor, West Liberty Foods slaughtered 222.83 million pounds of live turkeys in 2016, according to the WATTAgNet Top Poultry Companies Database.
Crystal Lake Farms is headquartered in Decatur, Arkansas.
