Jensen Meat Company

What Jensen Meat Company does

Jensen Meat Company is a San Diego, California-based, family-founded B2B processor of ground beef patties established in 1958 by Reggie Jensen. The company manufactures Individually Quick-Frozen (IQF) and fresh patties in sizes from 1.5oz to 16oz with varied fat-to-lean ratios and shapes, alongside specialty flavored patties, turkey and pork sausage, and — since 2021 — a plant-based line. Production capacity is approximately 300,000 pounds per day on a single state-of-the-art plant west of the Mississippi, executing over 250 SKUs across retail, food-service distribution, restaurant, and school channels. Quality systems rest on SQF Level 3 certification (achieved 2009), a proprietary Sanova lemon-juice-and-salt pathogen-control process claimed at 99.99% efficacy, a strict no-scraps / no-head-or-cheek-meat raw-material policy, and Certified Angus Beef brand partnership status.

The business model is a sales-led, B2B direct relationship model. The company distributes exclusively west of the Mississippi to food-service distributors, retail grocery chains, restaurant groups, and school districts, with a roughly 65% retail / 20% food distribution / 15% restaurant product mix and an 80% frozen / 20% fresh production split. Revenue is generated from both Jensen-branded products (Bo's Burgers with Bo Jackson, SOLOS individually-wrapped patties, Jensen Burgers) and private-label manufacturing for other brands (e.g., Slater's 50/50 Bacon Burgers sold at Sam's Club); private label currently represents roughly half of retail product, with management indicating intent to grow the branded share. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated contractually with channel buyers.

The company is privately held, employs 51-100 people, and is led by CEO Abel Olivera (in role since 2015, internal promotion from VP of Operations). It has no external institutional investment, no parent company, and no public ticker. Strategic posture since the mid-2010s has emphasized brand-led retail expansion (Bo's Burgers in 2016, Slater's 50/50 in 2017, SOLOS in 2019) plus category extension into plant-based protein in 2021, supported by an active manufacturing, logistics, and quality-assurance leadership team.

Name

Jensen Meat Company

Legal name

Jensen Meat Company

Website

https://jensenmeat.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Jensen Meat Company is a San Diego-based, family-founded B2B processor of IQF and fresh ground beef patties serving food service distribution, retail, restaurant, and school markets west of the Mississippi from a state-of-the-art plant producing 250+ SKUs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ground Beef Patty Processing

NAICS

Animal Slaughtering and Processing (3116)

SIC

Sausages & Other Prepared Meat Products (2013), Meat Packing Plants (2011)

akta.pro primary industry

Ground & Formed Meat Products Manufacturing (Burgers, Sausages, Meatballs) (AFAKALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Formed & Restructured Meats (Nuggets, Patties, Logs, Portion-Control) (AFANAEAI), Frozen Meat, Poultry & Seafood Manufacturing (AFAKACAG)

Keywords

• Ground beef patties
• IQF patty manufacturing
• Private label beef
• Food service protein
• Plant-based patties

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Ground Beef Manufacturing: Jensen Meat Company manufactures and sells ground beef patty products. The company produces over 250 SKUs of retail and food-service products, including individually quick-frozen (IQF) and fresh patties in different shapes, lean/fat ratios, and value-added products for both Jensen brand and private-label brands.
2. Private Label Manufacturing: The company manufactures products for other brands under private-label arrangements, processing 50% retail products under Jensen label with plans to increase branded business.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Jensen Meat Company manufactures and sells ground beef patties (fresh and Individually Quick-Frozen/IQF) in multiple sizes, shapes, and fat-to-lean ratios, along with specialty flavored patties, turkey/pork sausage, and plant-based patties, supplying food service distributors, retail grocery chains, restaurant chains, and schools west of the Mississippi. The company produces over 250 SKUs of Jensen branded and private-label products at approximately 300,000 pounds per day.

Product overview

Jensen Meat Company is a ground beef processor offering a portfolio of branded and private-label products. The core offering consists of fresh and IQF ground beef patties in various sizes and fat ratios, supplemented by specialty flavored patties and plant-based alternatives. The company operates a private-label manufacturing business alongside its Jensen-branded products (representing 50% of retail sales) and co-branded partnerships including Bo's Burgers and Slater's 50/50. The company expanded into plant-based proteins in 2021 and processes over 250 SKUs across retail and food-service channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bo's Burgers: A burger brand partnership with former professional athlete Bo Jackson, launched in 2016.
• SOLOS
• Jensen Burgers

Products and services

• Jensen Ground Beef Patties High-quality ground beef patties in fresh and IQF formats, available in sizes from 1.5oz to 16oz with various fat-to-lean ratios and shapes, manufactured only from chosen raw materials with no scraps or head/cheek meat. Intended for food service distributors, retail grocery chains, restaurants, and schools.
• Jensen Specialty Patties Flavor-enhanced burger patties including Bacon and Cheddar, Swiss and Mushroom, Chipotle and Monterey, and Jalapeño varieties, targeted at retail and food service customers seeking differentiated menu and shelf options.
• Jensen Plant-Based Patties Plant-based burger patties manufactured through Jensen's dedicated plant-based division launched in 2021, serving retail and food service customers seeking alternative protein options.
• SOLOS Individually-Wrapped Hamburger Patties Retail-focused individually-wrapped hamburger patty brand launched in 2019, designed for convenience in consumer retail markets.
• Bo's Burgers Co-branded burger product line developed in partnership with Bo Jackson in 2016, leveraging athlete endorsement for brand differentiation across retail and food service channels.
• Slater's 50/50 Bacon Burgers Bacon burger products manufactured for Slater's 50/50 restaurant brand and sold at Sam's Club warehouse retail locations under the Slater's 50/50 brand.
• Jensen Turkey and Pork Sausage Turkey and pork sausage products manufactured under the Jensen label, representing a small share of the company's overall protein portfolio.
• Private-Label Ground Beef Patty Manufacturing Contract manufacturing of ground beef patties under other brands' private-label programs, leveraging Jensen's SQF 3 certification, IQF capabilities, and 250+ SKU flexibility for retail and food service customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.99% pathogen reduction using Sanova solution

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bo JacksoncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2016Celebrity athlete partnership launching Bo's Burgers brand. Bo Jackson, former NFL and MLB athlete, co-branded burger line with Jensen Meat, featuring athlete endorsement and marketing.
• Slater's 50/50 RestaurantscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRestaurant chain partnership for specialty burger products. Slater's 50/50 bacon burger products are manufactured by Jensen Meat and distributed through Sam's Club.
• American Prairie ReserveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting conservation efforts and sustainable beef sourcing initiatives with American Prairie Reserve.
• Feeding San DiegominorGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit partnership where Jensen Meat and partners donated 2 million plant-based patties to Feeding San Diego, a food bank serving San Diego County.
• Certified Angus Beef LLCcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerJensen is an official CAB brand partner, meaning products meet strict quality specifications for Certified Angus Beef.
• Jensen Burgers (Products Website)minorOthersConsumer-facing products website at jensenburgers.com for retail customers to learn about Jensen branded products.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Beyond Meat: Beyond Meat is a leading plant-based protein producer competing in the same retail and food-service burger patty category that Jensen entered in 2021. It is comparable as a partial-overlap peer because Jensen's plant-based division now goes head-to-head with Beyond in retail grocery and foodservice.
• Creekstone Farms: Creekstone Farms is a premium U.S. beef processor producing Black Angus beef, value-added ground beef, and portioned products for retail and food-service. It competes with Jensen on premium Angus-branded ground beef, leveraging quality and brand positioning similar to Jensen's CAB partnership.

Broad incumbents

• Tyson Foods: Tyson Foods is one of the largest U.S. protein processors, producing ground beef patties, formed meats, and private-label products for retail and food-service. It competes with Jensen at the national retail and chain-restaurant level and represents the broad incumbent benchmark for scale, pricing power, and national distribution.
• JBS USA: JBS USA is one of the largest U.S. beef processors, operating multiple beef plants and producing ground beef patties and value-added proteins under Pilgrim's and other brands. It is a direct competitor to Jensen for retail private-label and food-service ground-beef accounts at scale.
• Cargill: Cargill's North American protein and ground beef business supplies retail private-label and food-service customers with a national footprint and vertically integrated supply chain. It competes directly with Jensen in the wholesale and retail ground-beef category, and similarly serves the broader patty and value-added protein market.

Direct peers

• National Beef Packing Company: National Beef is a U.S. beef processor producing fresh and frozen ground beef patties, boxed beef, and value-added case-ready products for retail and food-service. It directly competes with Jensen in private-label and branded ground beef, with similar customer types but a larger national footprint.
• American Foods Group: American Foods Group is a U.S. beef processor focused on value-added ground beef, portioned patties, and case-ready products for retail and food-service customers. It is a direct peer to Jensen in ground-beef patty manufacturing, private-label capability, and food-service distribution channels.
• OSI Group: OSI Group is a global food processor producing custom and branded protein products, including formed beef patties, for leading QSR and retail chains. It is comparable to Jensen in B2B patty manufacturing, custom formulations, and food-safety certifications (e.g., SQF), though at much larger scale.
• Wolverine Packing Company: Wolverine Packing is a Detroit-based ground beef processor producing fresh and frozen patties for retail, food-service, and private-label customers. It is a direct ground-beef-focused peer to Jensen with overlapping customer types, though it operates primarily in the eastern/central U.S.
• AdvancePierre Foods (now part of Tyson): AdvancePierre was a leading U.S. producer of value-added protein products, including formed beef patties, sandwiches, and handheld items for food service and retail. It was a direct competitor to Jensen in formed beef patty manufacturing and food-service distribution before being acquired by Tyson.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/jensenmeat
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jensen-meat-co

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Jensen Meat Company