American Foods Group

What American Foods Group does

American Foods Group, LLC is a privately held, family-owned beef processing company headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rosen's Diversified Inc. (RDI). Founded in 1946 (with AFG's beef processing operations acquired by RDI in 1974), the company is the 5th largest beef processor in the United States, employing more than 4,500 workers across facilities in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, and Nebraska. The company operates a vertically integrated platform spanning livestock procurement through end-product distribution, anchored by America's Service Line, a proprietary trucking fleet of over 500 trailer trucks.

The company processes fresh beef across multiple product categories — including steaks, roasts, ground beef, and specialty cuts — and distributes through three primary channels: Retail Grocery (under sub-brands including Dakota Brand, Great American Brands, Rock River Cattle Co., Sheboygan Company, Skylark, Meal Solutions, and Tender Year), Foodservice (restaurants, arenas, stadiums, schools), and International (exports to over 40 countries with halal and country-specific certifications). Skylark Meats is recognized as the country's #1 liver producer, and AFG Northland Kosher provides kosher-certified beef. Notable operational assets include the America's Heartland Packing facility in Wright City, Missouri — a 775,000 sq ft greenfield plant and the world's first LEED-certified beef harvest facility, capable of processing 2,400 cattle per day at full capacity. Food safety is anchored in GFSI-certified programs (SQF and BRC standards) with a comprehensive animal welfare program audited by third parties.

Revenue is generated through B2B sales of processed beef products via quote-based pricing across retail, foodservice, and international channels. The go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales (foodservice operators, international buyers) with retail distribution through grocery chains. In 2025, the company deployed $800 million into the new Missouri facility and received $10 million in USDA funding in September 2024, indicating an active expansion phase. Leadership includes Steven Van Lannen as President and Chief Operating Officer. The company maintains industry positioning through founding sponsorship of Protein PACT, a coalition establishing sustainability and animal welfare baselines across the animal protein sector.

Name

American Foods Group

Legal name

American Foods Group, LLC

Website

https://americanfoodsgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

American Foods Group is a privately held, family-owned beef processor and the 5th largest in the U.S., employing 4,500+ workers across facilities in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, and Nebraska, serving retail grocery, foodservice, and international export markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Beef Processing

NAICS

Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering (311611), Meat Processed from Carcasses (311612)

SIC

Meat Packing Plants (2011)

akta.pro primary industry

Beef Processing & Packing (AFAKALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Further Processing (Cooked, Smoked, Cured & Deli Meats) (AFAKALAD), Beef Offal & Variety Meats Processing (Organs, Tongue, Tripe) (AFANAAAH)

Keywords

• Beef processing
• Fresh meat manufacturing
• Foodservice meat supply
• Kosher beef products
• International beef exports

Headquarters

HQ city

Green Bay

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Beef Processing and Sales: American Foods Group processes beef and sells fresh meats, retail products, and foodservice products through multiple channels including grocery stores, foodservice operators, and international markets

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

American Foods Group is a beef processing company that produces and delivers fresh beef products through four primary channels: Fresh Meats (raw beef cuts), Foodservice (products packaged for restaurants and institutions), Retail (consumer-packaged beef sold in grocery stores under multiple brands), and International (export products meeting country-specific and halal certification requirements). The company operates as a vertically integrated operation with its own livestock sourcing, multiple processing facilities, and a proprietary transportation fleet of 500+ trucks.

Product overview

American Foods Group is a privately held beef processing company that operates as a unified platform across multiple product categories and sub-brands. The company offers fresh beef products through four main channels: Fresh Meats (raw beef cuts), Foodservice (restaurant/institutional products), Retail (consumer-packaged goods), and International (export products). The portfolio includes multiple sub-brands such as Dakota Brand, Great American Brands, Meal Solutions, Rock River Cattle Co., Sheboygan Company, Skylark (noted as #1 liver producer in the US), and Tender Year. Additional services include America's Service Line for transportation logistics, a Food Cost Calculator tool, and promotional programs for sales partners. The company also operates a vertically integrated structure with Rosen's Diversified, Inc., controlling operations from farm to table through multiple processing facilities across the United States.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dakota Brand: Beef product brand sold at retail stores
• Great American Brands
• Meal Solutions
• Rock River Cattle Co.
• Sheboygan Company
• Skylark
• Tender Year

Products and services

• Fresh Meats Fresh beef products including various cuts such as steaks, roasts, ground beef, and specialty cuts sold to foodservice, retail, and international markets.
• Foodservice Beef Products Beef products specifically packaged and portioned for restaurant, hospitality, and institutional foodservice operations including arenas, stadiums, and schools.
• Retail Beef Products Consumer-packaged beef products sold through grocery retail channels under multiple brand names including Dakota Brand, Great American Brands, Meal Solutions, Rock River Cattle Co., Sheboygan Company, Skylark, and Tender Year.
• International Beef Products Beef products exported to international markets meeting various country-specific and halal certification requirements.
• America's Service Line Transportation and Logistics Transportation and logistics fleet service operating a proprietary fleet of over 500 trailer trucks for product distribution, part of the vertically integrated American Foods Group operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• First LEED-certified beef harvest facility in the world
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Protein PACTcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFG is a proud founding sponsor of Protein PACT, an organization that strengthens animal protein's contributions to healthy people, healthy animals, healthy communities, and a healthy environment. The Protein PACT gathers organizations across the industry to establish transparent baselines for continuous improvement and aligns with global goals.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Tyson Foods: One of the largest US protein processors and a direct competitor to American Foods Group in beef slaughtering, fabrication, and retail/foodservice distribution. Tyson is a much larger, publicly traded incumbent whose beef segment competes head-to-head with AFG for major retail and foodservice accounts.
• JBS USA: JBS USA is the largest US beef packer and a direct competitor to American Foods Group across cattle slaughter, fabrication, and boxed beef distribution. As the industry leader, JBS sets the pricing and supply benchmark that AFG must match in retail and foodservice channels.
• Cargill Meat Solutions: Cargill's meat solutions division is a top-tier US beef processor and direct competitor to American Foods Group in cattle slaughter, further processing, and retail/foodservice beef supply. Comparable vertically integrated operations and overlap in customer channels make it a primary peer.

Direct peers

• National Beef Packing Company: National Beef is one of the top US beef packers operating harvest, fabrication, and further-processing facilities that directly compete with American Foods Group for cattle supply and retail/foodservice customers. Most directly comparable to AFG in scale, product mix, and channel strategy.
• Greater Omaha Packing: Greater Omaha Packing is a privately held US beef processor with harvest and fabrication operations that overlap with American Foods Group's core business. Similar family-owned profile and comparable scale make it a close peer in the mid-tier beef packing segment.
• Agri Beef Co. Agri Beef is a vertically integrated beef company operating harvest, processing, and branded beef programs (e.g., Snake River Farms, Double R Ranch). It is comparable to AFG in operating model, family ownership, and branded retail strategy.
• Creekstone Farms Premium Beef: Creekstone Farms is a US beef processor focused on premium, Black Angus, and specialty certified products. Comparable to AFG's specialty sub-brands and further-processed offerings, and a direct competitor for premium retail and foodservice placements.
• Iowa Premium Beef: Iowa Premium Beef is a Midwest beef processor producing Black Angus boxed beef for retail and foodservice channels. Overlaps with AFG's fresh meats, retail, and foodservice segments and is similarly sized within the regional packer tier.

Emerging players

• Strauss Brands: Strauss Brands is a specialty veal, lamb, and natural/welfare-certified beef company. While narrower in species scope, its focus on premium, welfare-certified retail and foodservice cuts overlaps with AFG's specialty and kosher/certified programs (e.g., Skylark, AFG Northland Kosher).

Others

• Sysco Corporation: Sysco is the largest US broadline foodservice distributor and a major buyer of beef products that AFG supplies to foodservice operators. Not a direct processor competitor, but a critical downstream channel partner and comparable point of reference for the foodservice go-to-market motion.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-foods-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Foods Group