Pilgrim’s Pride, a U.S. subsidiary of Brazilian meatpacking giant JBS, will expand its organic and antibiotic-free chicken production capacity by buying GNP Co. for $350 million in cash, said the Denver Post. GNP, based in St. Cloud, Minn, produces organic and antibiotic-free chicken. Pilgram’s Price is the second-largest U.S. poultry processor.
The deal, expected to close in early 2017, will mean a larger geographic reach for Colorado-based Pilgrims Pride and the opportunity to expand customer bases, according to a company statement. GNP said in 2015 that it would make its Gold’n Plump brand into a no-antibiotics-ever line by 2019, said the Denver Post. GNP’s Just BARE line includes organic chicken products.
Pilgrims Pride made an unsuccessful bid for Hillshire Brands and later bought Tyson Foods’ Mexican poultry business in 2015, said the Denver newspaper.