Pitman Family Farms hints at interest in Zacky Farms

California poultry company Pitman Family Farms indicated that it would be interested in acquiring turkey farms affiliated with the soon-to-be defunct Zacky Farms.

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California poultry company Pitman Family Farms indicated that it would be interested in acquiring turkey farms affiliated with the soon-to-be defunct Zacky Farms.

Zacky Farms announced on October 31 that it would be going out of business, effective January 19, 2019, amid tough market conditions and failed attempts to secure “business and capital.”

Should Pitman Family Farms acquire any assets related to Zacky Farms, also headquartered in California, it would not be the first time in recent months for it to make an acquisition to increase its turkey production. Around the beginning of 2018 and with little fanfare, the company acquired Utah-based Norbest, which according to the WATTAgNet Top Poultry Companies Database, in 2017 was the 16th largest turkey company in the United States and processed 109 million pounds of turkey that year. Zacky Farms was the 18th largest turkey company in the United States, having processed 82.96 million pounds in 2017.

Mary Pitman, whose father-in-law Don Pitman started the family enterprise in 1954 and is the namesake of the company’s brands Mary’s Free-Range Chicken and Mary’s Free-Range Turkey, told AgAlert the company wasn’t finished looking at expanding.

"There's huge demand for our chickens and our turkeys," Pitman said. "Our biggest problem is producing enough chickens and turkeys. We've totally maxed out our space. That's why we bought Norbest — so we can do some of that in Utah. We're always looking for farms."

Pitman Family Farms in 2013 expanded its chicken processing plant in Sanger, California, adding 25,000 square feet to the facility.

Mary Pitman’s son, David Pitman, in December 2017, was named to the Global Animal Partnership (GAP) board. Pitman Family Farms raises GAP Steps 2, 3 and 5 chickens, as well as Steps 3 and 5 turkeys.

Pitman’s earlier dealings with Zacky Farms

Zacky Farms had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October 2012. Following that filing Pitman Family Farms had offered to acquire Zacky Farms, offering $32 million.

However, according to Wikipedia, Zacky Farms emerged from bankruptcy in 2014, with Lillian Zacky as the sole owner of the company.

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