What C K International does

C K International, Ltd. (CKI) is a privately held B2B trading company founded in 1994 and headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa. The company operates two core product lines: Pork Products and Pigskin/Leather. In pork, CKI sources from local Iowa packers and consolidates fresh and frozen cuts, USDA-inspected antibiotic-free pork, American Berkshire Association-verified 100% Berkshire pork, and specialty processed foods (US-style sausage, bacon, ham, and Japanese/Asian cooked products) for containerized export to 10 countries across North America, Europe, and Asia. The pigskin line is anchored by an agency relationship with Hormel Foods, giving CKI access to over 32,000 midsection pigskins per day and representing over 80% of US butcher pigskin used in leather production.

CKI distributes wet salted pigskin, wet blue pigskin (processed at an LWG-rated tannery with 5+ month mold protection), and finished breathable pigskin nubuck to global tanneries, athletic footwear manufacturers, luxury apparel brands, and leather goods producers. Underlying technology is non-proprietary: the business is a physical commodity trading and consolidation operation that relies on USDA inspection, PQA Plus, TQA, and FACTS compliance, plus USHSLA guidelines for documentation and trade facilitation. There is no disclosed software platform, no AI/ML systems, and no digital product surface.

CKI earns revenue via transaction fees and trading spreads on commodity flow rather than disclosed pricing models. Go-to-market is sales-led enterprise field sales with direct B2B relationships, long-term integrated partnerships, hands-on quality inspection at each step, and end-to-end export documentation and logistics. The company is a member of the U.S. Hide, Skin and Leather Association with formal access to the US Department of Commerce for international trade issue resolution. Headcount, revenue, and ownership are not publicly disclosed.

Name

C K International

Legal name

C K International, Ltd.

Website

https://ckinternationalltd.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

C K International, Ltd. is a privately held West Des Moines-based B2B trader founded in 1994, exporting USDA-inspected pork products and Hormel-allocated pigskin/leather to tanneries, footwear brands, and apparel manufacturers across 10 countries on three continents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

West Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Pork Products Trading: Buy and sell pork products including antibiotic-free pork, Berkshire pork, and specialty processed foods. Works with local packers to source and consolidate products for domestic and international shipment.
2. Pigskin/Leather Trading: Acts as agent for Hormel midsection pigskin, distributing wet salted skins, wet blue skins, and breathable leather. Ships over 32,000 pieces per day and serves global tanneries and footwear manufacturers.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Core offering

C K International, Ltd. is an international B2B trading company that supplies pork-related products and pigskin/leather raw materials to manufacturers, tanners, and importers worldwide. The company acts as an agent representing Hormel midsection pigskin, brokering supply between U.S. producers and overseas buyers in the leather and meat-processing industries.

Product overview

C K International, Ltd. is a trading company offering two core product lines: Pork Products and Pigskin/Leather. The Pork Products division encompasses Antibiotic Free Pork, 100% Berkshire Pork, Specialty Processed Foods, and Consolidation & Logistics services. The Pigskin division offers Wet Salted Pigskin, Wet Blue Pigskin, and Breathable Leather (pigskin nubuck). The company acts as an agent for Hormel pigskin products and exports to 10 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pigskin / leather raw materials trading B2B supply of pigskin and leather raw materials to international tanneries and leather-goods manufacturers, including U.S.-origin pigskin sourced for export.
• Hormel midsection pigskin agency Agency/brokerage service representing Hormel's midsection pigskin supply for overseas tanneries and leather manufacturers, with the company acting as the appointed intermediary between the producer and international buyers.
• Pork products and meat-byproduct trading International sourcing and supply of pork products and related meat byproducts to importers and food manufacturers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ships to 10 countries across 3 continents
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HormelcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCKI acts as an agent for Hormel midsection pigskin, providing access to over 32,000 pcs/day representing over 80% of US butcher pigskin used in leather. Hormel processes healthy, USDA inspected hogs with strict animal welfare requirements including PQA Plus and TQA programs.
• U.S. Hide, Skin and Leather Association (USHSLA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive member providing access to industry network, trade intelligence, and ability to overcome trade obstacles. Association connects members with US Department of Commerce and other government contacts for international trade issues.
• US Department of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConnected through USHSLA membership to stay current on international trade issues and overcome trade obstacles.
• LWG Rated TanneriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS wet blue pigskin processed in LWG (Leather Working Group) rated tannery with temperature controlled environment and regulated groundwater temperatures for consistent year-round production.
• Local Iowa PackerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorks closely with local packers in Iowa to source highest standard pork products and assist in consolidating products for container shipment.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Smithfield Foods: Smithfield is one of the world's largest pork producers and exporters. Comparable as a US-based pork producer with significant international export operations and a broad product portfolio spanning fresh, frozen, and processed pork.
• Tyson Foods: Tyson is a major US protein producer with significant pork and prepared foods operations. Comparable as a large US-based protein company with international distribution and value-added processed pork categories.
• JBS USA: JBS is a global meat processing company with major US pork operations. Comparable as a vertically integrated protein producer and exporter competing in the same international pork markets that CKI serves.
• Hormel Foods Corporation: Hormel is the principal supplier of butcher pigskin that CKI distributes as an agent. While much larger and operationally distinct, Hormel is the most directly relevant counterpart for CKI's pigskin business and a key channel partner whose decisions shape CKI's supply access.
• Cargill Protein & Food Ingredients: Cargill is a major global commodity trader with significant animal protein and by-products operations. Comparable as a diversified trader sourcing, processing, and distributing pork and animal by-products internationally.

Regional players

• Seaboard Foods: Seaboard Foods is a US pork producer and processor with vertically integrated operations. Comparable as a US pork exporter with by-product utilization capabilities, operating in similar end markets to CKI.
• Iowa Premium Pork / TriOak Foods: TriOak Foods is an Iowa-based pork processor and supplier. Comparable as a regional Iowa-based pork supplier with which CKI could partner or compete in sourcing and distribution.

Emerging players

• Danish Crown: Danish Crown is a large European pork cooperative with significant global export operations. Comparable as a pork producer/exporter competing for international market share, particularly in Asia and Europe where CKI also operates.

Direct peers

• Euro-American International Foods: Euro-American is a US-based international meat trader specializing in pork and protein exports. Closely comparable as a trading intermediary focused on US pork exports to international markets with consolidation and documentation services.

Others

• U.S. Hide, Skin and Leather Association (USHSLA) member traders: USHSLA represents US hide, skin, and leather exporters. Comparable as the industry association network through which CKI competes for hide/pigskin trade flows and accesses US Department of Commerce resources.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/c-k-international-ltd

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 C K International