Perdue Premium Meat Company (PPMC) acquired specialty meat processer, Alexander & Hornung.
Alexander & Hornung is the most recent brand, and co-packer, to join the Perdue Farms family of sustainable premium meat companies, that include Niman Ranch, Coleman Natural, Panorama Organic Grass-Fed Beef, and Sioux-Preme Packing Co.
Alexander & Hornung, has been creating artisanal hams, hand-made sausages, hot dogs and specialty meats for seventy-five years.
Alexander & Hornung currently manufacture a broad assortment of proteins, including beef, pork, turkey and chicken, that will expand to include the PPMC brands, helping to facilitate the growth of the no antibiotics or added hormones – ever, popular premium meat brands. Based near Detroit in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, Alexander & Hornung services a significant market east of the Mississippi, including Ohio, Illinois, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Maine, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Maryland and Michigan. Alexander & Hornung has also worked in Canada for over 30 years.
"We’re excited because Perdue is exceptional at honoring the businesses they acquire. We're delighted that a family owned company is buying our company and taking care of our employees and legacy,” said Bernie Polen, president of Alexander & Hornung. “This acquisition raises the profile of Alexander & Hornung and will allow the company to expand with the premium and natural market.”
Alexander & Hornung will remain in Michigan and be led by long-time partner and general manager, Tom Eckert.
“It is of paramount importance to have been able to choose a company that would value our people, customers and our culture, as we have for 75 years,” Polen said.
Eckert added: “We knew the best way to secure our future was to find a company that had the means and desire to invest in our plant, employees and great products in addition to operational support. We found that in Perdue. We’ve watched as mergers and acquisitions have taken place over the years and knew from experience that this was the perfect direction for the future legacy of Alexander & Hornung.”
Eckert will have the support and guidance of Gary Malenke, senior vice president of Perdue Pork Operations, a 32-year veteran of the company, to help chart a course of growth and profitability for A&H and their employees.
Alexander & Hornung has four generations of family involvement over 75 years. They have solid brand recognition but also provide private label and customized brands for customers. The plant and team have extensive and varied capabilities to produce and innovate the highest quality meats for their premium meat brands.
“We couldn’t have found a better fit. Their knowledge to make truly fantastic hams, handmade sausages, hot dogs, and deli meats with time honored recipes and world class butchers and staff, will allow us all to grow. The fact they are in the Midwest and Northeast is ideal as we remain close to our farmers, ranchers, plant, production and cold-storage,” said Jeff Tripician, president of Perdue Premium Meat Company. “We look forward to supporting their growth as we begin making additional fine products at their plant.” Tripician noted that Alexander & Hornung would continue to run as an independent facility under the PPMC umbrella, in line with how Niman Ranch and other acquisitions have succeeded within Perdue.
Tripician added: “This acquisition allows us to continue to make great products, invest in cutting edge packaging, production and varieties while we work with all of our current co-packers to grow. Business is increasing and the market is demanding more options in the natural meat segment. Quite honestly, it also diversifies our business so that we can better support small batch custom orders, varying schedules and onboard new customers within our own network.”
