Tracing Hormel Bacon Back to Its Roots: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at America’s Top Bacon Brand

As an avid bacon lover, I’ve been eating Hormel bacon for as long as I can remember. Whenever I grab a pack of their bacon at the store, I never really think much about where it comes from before landing in the grocery aisle. But with all the consumer interest in food supply chains lately, I decided to do some digging on one of America’s most iconic bacon brands.

Hormel Foods founded all the way back in 1891, has grown into one of the largest processed meat companies in the world pumping out billions of pounds of products every year. Since the beginning, bacon has been an integral part of their business. Let’s trace the origins of everyone’s favorite pork product to get an inside look into large-scale bacon production.

Overview of Hormel Foods

To understand how Hormel bacon is made. we first need some background on Hormel Foods itself

• Founded in 1891 in Austin, Minnesota by George A. Hormel as a small meat packing operation.

• Expanded to become one of the biggest processed food manufacturers in the U.S.

• Products include bacon, lunch meat, canned chili, microwaveable meals, and SPAM.

• Operates large production facilities in Minnesota, Nebraska, Georgia, Colorado, and internationally.

• Employs over 20,000 people worldwide.

• Sells both retail and food service products under brands like Hormel, Jennie-O, Applegate, Columbus, and more.

With this wide reach across retail, food service, and international channels, supplying bacon is a huge endeavor.

Where Hormel Sources Its Pork

The first step in making bacon is securing ample quantities of fresh pork. Here is Hormel’s pork supply process:

• Contract farming – Hormel does not own farms, but rather contracts with independent farmers to supply live hogs. This provides consistency.

• Midwest focused – Many hog farms are located in the Midwest near Hormel’s Minnesota headquarters. The region dominates U.S. pork production.

• Traceability – Farm sources can be traced back unlike anonymous commodity pork. However, some criticize confinement practices.

• Cargill ties – Hormel has close relationships with Cargill’s pork operations, allowing coordinated supply.

• Own feed mills – Hormel produces custom hog feed at their own feed mills to control inputs.

Drawing from Midwestern farms and Cargill partnerships gives Hormel reliable access to pork.

How the Bacon is Processed

Once live hogs arrive at Hormel’s processing plants, they undergo the transformation into bacon. Here are some key steps:

• Swift humane handling – Hogs are stunned to minimize suffering before processing.

• USDA oversight – On-site USDA inspectors monitor food safety and compliance.

• Primal cuts – Carcasses are first broken into sections like pork belly.

• Curing – Bellies are injected with a brine solution to cure the meat.

• Smoking – Bellies smoke for hours to develop signature bacon flavor.

• Slicing – Thin uniform bacon slices are machine cut from smoked bellies.

• Packaging – Bacon slices are packaged in leak-proof materials.

Rigorous processes convert fresh pork bellies into the tasty smoked and cured bacon we know and love.

Getting Bacon to Customers

Once bacon leaves the production line, how does it make its way to neighborhood grocery stores?

• Distribution centers – Bacon is trucked to major retail distribution centers around the country.

• Direct-to-store – Independent grocers may get direct store deliveries.

• Warehouses – Bacon is stocked in Hormel’s warehouses until needed by retailers.

• Online sales – Hormel sells bacon directly to consumers through their e-commerce site.

• Food service – Bacon is distributed to restaurants, hotels, and other food service.

• International – Bacon is shipped globally to meet demand in overseas markets.

With distribution capabilities nationwide and beyond, Hormel can keep their bacon supply chain moving swiftly.

Why Hormel Dominates Bacon

From small-town meatpacker to processed food titan, how did Hormel come to dominate supermarket bacon sales?

• Early mover – Hormel saw the potential of bacon early on and heavily invested in production.

• Brand recognition – Massive consumer marketing made “Hormel bacon” a household name.

• Acquisitions – Buying established pork companies expanded output.

• State-of-the-art facilities – Construction of high-tech plants increased capacity.

• Diverse bacon portfolio – Different bacon formats appeal to any preference.

• International growth – Exporting bacon globally extended market reach.

Through savvy expansion strategies and relentless innovation, Hormel secured its place as America’s #1 bacon purveyor.

Can Hormel Bacon Be Trusted?

Understanding the journey from pig to package provides a helpful look behind the scenes. But most importantly, should bacon lovers feel comfortable buying Hormel’s bacon? Based on their vertically integrated supply chain and stringent safety protocols, Hormel bacon appears to earn consumer trust:

• Traceability – Farm sources can be accounted for through contracts.

• Transparency – Hormel openly shares details on their pork program and processes.

• Compliance – On-site USDA inspection guarantees adherence to regulations.

• Efficiency – Direct distribution minimizes touches to ensure freshness.

• Heritage – 100+ years perfecting world-class bacon production speaks for itself.

While large-scale meat processing rightfully raises consumer questions, Hormel’s commitment to traceable farm sources, safety, and honest quality gives bacon lovers reason to keep enjoying their products. Because as far as I’m concerned, there’s no plate of eggs complete without that sizzle of Hormel bacon!