Superior Farms
Superior Farms is a 100% employee-owned (ESOP) Sacramento, California-based lamb processor, founded 1964, that is North America's largest lamb marketer. It sources lambs from over 1,000 American family ranches and supplies retail grocery, foodservice, and export customers across the US, Canada, Japan, and 10+ additional countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1964
- HeadquartersSacramento, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Superior Farms does
Superior Farms is a Sacramento, California-based lamb processor founded in 1964 and self-described as North America's largest processor and marketer of lamb. The company is 100% employee-owned through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) with approximately 400-412 employee-owners, and operates processing facilities in Dixon, CA (the flagship, Halal-certified and powered at 95% by solar/wind), Denver, CO (Halal-certified), Vernon, CA (Prop 12 certified), and a distribution hub in Blue Island, IL. Superior Farms sources lambs from over 1,000 American family ranches and sells processed lamb products to retail grocery chains, foodservice operators, and export markets in Canada, Japan (since October 2018), and more than 10 additional countries.
The company's product portfolio spans commodity cuts (rack, leg, shoulder, loin, shanks, ground lamb) under the Superior Farms American Lamb brand, premium sub-brands including Farmer's Mark (antibiotic-free, launched February 2016) and Cascade Creek, and value-added foodservice SKUs such as Precooked & Pulled Lamb Shoulder (debuted March 2015). Proprietary technology underpins operations: the USDA-approved VSS2000 camera grading system (the first digital camera approved for US lamb grading, February 2018), RFID-based individual-lamb traceability, the Flock54 genotype-by-sequencing genetic testing and parentage program (launched July 2018), Vacuum Skin Packaging that reduces plastic use by 33% and food waste by up to two-thirds, and a Producer Portal that returns carcass-level yield and quality data to rancher partners. Certifications span BRC (A/AA), Halal, Prop 12, and FSMA 204.
Superior Farms generates revenue through one-time sales of processed lamb products to B2B retail grocery and foodservice customers, complemented by consumer-facing content marketing and direct-to-consumer promotional campaigns. GTM is primarily enterprise field sales with dedicated teams for retail and foodservice, augmented by social media, recipe content, partner co-marketing, and industry events. There is no public pricing; sales are conducted through direct B2B relationships. Customers include Raley's, Bristol Farms, Haggen, Pavilions, Torchy's Tacos, and ballpark venues such as AT&T Park and Raley Field. The only capital event disclosed is a July 2022 SEC Form D exempt offering of $1,284,450 to 13 investors under Rule 506(b).
Superior Farms firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Superior Farms
- Legal name
- Superior Farms
- Website
- https://superiorfarms.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1964
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Superior Farms is a 100% employee-owned (ESOP) Sacramento, California-based lamb processor, founded 1964, that is North America's largest lamb marketer. It sources lambs from over 1,000 American family ranches and supplies retail grocery, foodservice, and export customers across the US, Canada, Japan, and 10+ additional countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Superior Farms industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Lamb Meat Processing
- NAICS
- Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering (311611), Sheep Farming (112410), Animal Slaughtering and Processing (3116), Sheep and Goat Farming (1124)
- SIC
- Meat Packing Plants (2011), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sheep Farming (Wool & Meat) (AFAEAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Processed & Value-Added Meat & Poultry Wholesale (Deli Meats, Sausages, Smoked) (AFAIADAE), Further Processing (Cooked, Smoked, Cured & Deli Meats) (AFAKALAD)
Keywords
Where Superior Farms is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sacramento
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Superior Farms business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Lamb Product Sales: Primary revenue from processing and selling American lamb products to retail grocery chains and foodservice operators. Products include various cuts, pre-cooked items, and value-added products. Sold throughout the United States, Canada, and more than 10 countries.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Superior Farms product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Superior Farms is North America's largest lamb processor, producing and distributing fresh American lamb cuts, value-added cooked products, and specialty sub-brands to retail grocery chains, foodservice operators, and export markets. The company operates processing facilities in Dixon CA, Denver CO, and Vernon CA, plus a distribution center in Blue Island, and sources lamb from over 1,000 family farms across the western U.S.
Product overview
Superior Farms offers a portfolio of lamb products and brands. The core product line is Superior Farms American Lamb (various cuts including shanks, rack, leg, shoulder, ground, and loin), distributed nationwide and internationally. The sub-brand portfolio includes Farmer's Mark (antibiotic-free lamb, launched 2016), Cascade Creek Lamb (premium offering), and Precooked & Pulled Lamb Shoulder (convenience product for foodservice). Supporting technology platforms include the Producer Portal for carcass data access and Flock54 for genetic testing and parentage verification. The company serves retail, foodservice, and chef segments across the United States, Canada, and export markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Farmer's Mark: Antibiotic-free American lamb brand sourced from lambs raised 100% without antibiotics and added hormones. Launched in February 2016.
- Cascade Creek
Products and services
- Superior Farms American Lamb
Quantifiable outcome
- 95% clean energy usage at Dixon facility
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Superior Farms
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Superior Farms technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Superior Farms partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Farmland TradingcoreJapanese distributor for American lamb exports. Superior Farms worked with Farmland Trading for 15 years anticipating the reopening of Japanese market to resume lamb exports. Farmland Trading distributes Superior Farms American lamb to high-end restaurants and retail outlets in Japan.
- Raley'scoreNorthern California grocery retailer that was the first to support the Farmer's Mark antibiotic-free lamb brand when launched in 2016.
- Torchy's TacosminorRestaurant partnership featuring Superior Farms American Lamb in promotional 'South Pole' taco at 34+ Texas locations in December 2015.
- OPA dressings by LitehouseminorSummer marketing partnership with OPA dressings for 'Grill Like A Greek' promotional campaign including digital and in-store marketing, sweepstakes, and recipe brochures.
- UC DaviscoreHost of inaugural Sheep Industry Innovators Conference. Researchers including Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam and Dr. Cassandra Tucker provided presentations on CRISPR technology and Smart Farm initiatives. Conference included tours of UC Davis facilities.
- Colorado State UniversitycoreDr. Temple Grandin, Ph.D. of Colorado State University provided significant input in design and operation of facilities to ensure proper handling. Featured in NAMI Glass Walls project as example of well-run processing facility.
- American Lamb BoardcoreIndustry-funded research and promotions board. Vital participant in camera grading development; funded electronic grading research conducted by Colorado State University. Supports Young Producer Tri-Lamb group.
- AlltechminorSteve Elliott of Alltech featured as speaker at Sheep Industry Innovators Conference discussing industry disruptors.
- 1,000+ Family FarmscoreNetwork of American sheep ranchers and family farms across the United States supplying lambs for Superior Farms processing. Partners receive support through Flock54 genetic testing, long-term contracts for market access, and ewe loan programs for young producers.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Superior Farms competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat6 records
Customer concentration
Superior Farms social profiles
Digital presenceSuperior Farms compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Superior Farms financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Superior Farms leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Superior Farms funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Superior Farms M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Superior Farms
What does Superior Farms do?
Superior Farms is North America's largest lamb processor, producing and distributing fresh American lamb cuts, value-added cooked products, and specialty sub-brands to retail grocery chains, foodservice operators, and export markets. The company operates processing facilities in Dixon CA, Denver CO, and Vernon CA, plus a distribution center in Blue Island, and sources lamb from over 1,000 family farms across the western U.S.
Is Superior Farms a public or private company?
Superior Farms is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Superior Farms founded?
Superior Farms was founded in 1964. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Superior Farms based?
Superior Farms is headquartered in Sacramento, United States, in the North America region.
How does Superior Farms make money?
One revenue line is on record: lamb Product Sales.
Does Superior Farms have an API?
No public API is recorded for Superior Farms.
What industry is Superior Farms in?
Superior Farms's product category is Lamb Meat Processing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAEAFAA, Sheep Farming (Wool & Meat), with a secondary code of AFAIADAE, Processed & Value-Added Meat & Poultry Wholesale (Deli Meats, Sausages, Smoked). Its NAICS code is 311611 and its SIC code is 2011.