Uncovering the Ownership Behind Just Bare Chicken

Have you ever wondered who’s behind the Just Bare chicken brand while grocery shopping? As consumers become more concerned about transparency in the food industry, understanding who owns and operates brands like Just Bare is crucial. In this article, I’ll explore the corporate structure and history behind Just Bare chicken to answer the key question – who owns Just Bare chicken?

First, let’s get familiar with Just Bare and what sets them apart in the chicken market. Just Bare chicken differentiates itself by producing antibiotic-free and minimally processed poultry products. Their focus is on quality and taste while avoiding artificial ingredients or excessive processing that could diminish the nutritional value.

Just Bare chicken builds its brand identity around healthier chicken options that appeal to today’s more health and environmentally conscious consumers, Their antibiotic-free claim is a key selling point for consumers concerned about overuse of antibiotics in animal agriculture,

Just Bare’s Corporate Ownership Structure

While Just Bare maintains its distinct brand identity and mission, it operates within a larger corporate structure. Just Bare chicken is owned by Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, one of the largest chicken producers in the US.

In late 2016, Pilgrim’s Pride acquired Just Bare’s parent company, GNP Company, for $350 million This acquisition allowed Pilgrim’s to expand into the growing market for antibiotic-free, premium chicken products under the established Just Bare brand name

However, Pilgrim’s Pride is not stand-alone entity either. The global meat processing giant, JBS S.A., owns a majority stake of 78.5% in Pilgrim’s Pride. JBS S.A., headquartered in Brazil, is the largest meat processing company in the world.

A Look at Pilgrim’s Pride and JBS

To understand the impact of this ownership arrangement on Just Bare chicken, let’s look closer at both Pilgrim’s Pride and JBS:

Pilgrim’s Pride – As the direct owner of the Just Bare brand, Pilgrim’s Pride oversees day-to-day business operations, supply chain logistics, and product development. They are responsible for upholding Just Bare’s standards for antibiotic-free, humane farming practices and minimal processing from farm to table. Pilgrim’s Pride operates chicken processing plants across the US along with a distribution network.

JBS S.A. – As the majority shareholder in Pilgrim’s Pride, the meat processing giant JBS S.A. wields considerable strategic influence. Their global scale, resources, and infrastructure help support Pilgrim’s operations and growth. However, some consumers may be concerned if JBS’s business practices and values align with Just Bare’s commitments to sustainability and ethical animal agriculture.

The History Behind Just Bare’s Ownership

To understand how Just Bare chicken arrived under the Pilgrim’s Pride umbrella, let’s look at some key events:

• Founded by GNP Company, who launched and developed the Just Bare brand.

• In late 2016, Pilgrim’s Pride acquired GNP Company for $350 million to grow its antibiotic-free chicken business.

• In 2009, JBS USA Holdings (subsidiary of Brazilian company JBS S.A.) purchased a 64% stake in Pilgrim’s Pride.

• Over the following years, JBS continued expanding its ownership share of Pilgrim’s Pride to 78.5% by 2017.

• Through this sequence of acquisitions and investments, Just Bare chicken came under the ownership structure it remains in today.

Commitment to Quality & Sustainability

Amid these larger corporate machinations, Just Bare maintains its focus on providing quality antibiotic-free and humanely raised chicken. Both Just Bare and Pilgrim’s Pride emphasize commitments to animal welfare, sustainability, and food safety. For example:

• Just Bare promotes transparency into its chicken farming and processing. Their website shares details on their standards and practices.

• Pilgrim’s touts internal policies on animal welfare along with sustainability efforts to reduce environmental impact, including improved water conservation and lower energy use in operations.

• However, some consumers have expressed skepticism on whether large conglomerates like JBS can holistically implement such practices. But increased public scrutiny and consumer awareness continues to put pressure on the food industry’s largest players.

The Takeaway: Understanding the Bigger Picture

While Just Bare chicken offers products aligned with many consumers’ values, being aware of their parent companies provides fuller context. Knowing who owns Just Bare chicken illuminates the broader corporate landscape of food production. It also surfaces potential ethical questions regarding consolidation and sustainability in animal agriculture.

Informed consumers can analyze how Just Bare’s commitments mesh within a complex hierarchy of ownership while using their purchasing power to encourage truly transparent and responsible practices industry-wide.

At the end of the day, thoughtfully understanding who owns brands we buy from empowers us to make the most aligned choices possible as consumers and advocates for a just, ethical, and environmentally sustainable food system.

Just Bare Chicken, while not having a single physical store location, is widely available at national retailers like Costco and Target.