Pilgrim's Pride Corporation
Pilgrim's Pride Corp. produces, processes, markets, and distributes fresh, frozen, and value-added chicken and pork products. The company operates a vertically integrated protein business with major operations in the United States, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and other international markets through a network of farms, feed mills, hatcheries, processing plants, and distribution centers.
Fiscal year 2025 · change from previous year
Development 2020–2025
Business
Share of revenueRaw chicken products sold through retail, foodservice, and distribution channels.
Frozen poultry products for retail, foodservice, and wholesale customers.
Marinated, breaded, cooked, and convenience poultry products.
Pork production and processing, primarily in the U.K. operations.
Branded, private-label, and other meat offerings including regional brands.
Products
Reported · share of revenue- Fresh Product66.3 %
- Prepared Product25.4 %
- Product Export5.6 %
- Other Product and Service2.7 %
Source: 10-K FY2025, revenue the company reports per product line (SEC XBRL). Shares are of the lines shown and add up to 100 %.
Customers
Pilgrim's sells to foodservice operators, retailers, distributors, and food processors. Its customer base includes chain restaurants, grocery chains, warehouse clubs, and wholesale channels across the U.S., U.K., Europe, and Mexico. The business is shaped by large customers that demand consistent supply, tailored specifications, and competitive pricing.
Chain restaurants and foodservice distributors buy chicken products for menu applications and consistent supply.
Supermarkets and grocery chains buy fresh, frozen, and value-added poultry for consumer packaged meat aisles.
Wholesale clubs buy larger-format poultry packs and branded items for value-focused shoppers.
Processors buy poultry inputs for use in prepared foods and further manufacturing.
Customers in the U.K., Europe, and Mexico buy regionally tailored poultry and pork products.
Strategy
Pilgrim's strategy centers on vertical integration, broad product mix, and close alignment with large retail and foodservice customers. The company also invests in capacity, plant conversions, and system improvements to support growth products, operational efficiency, and customer-specific offerings. Its branded and private-label portfolio helps it serve both value-oriented and specification-driven channels across multiple geographies.
These products support customer-specific demand and broader margin mix.
Owning more of the production chain helps manage food safety, quality, and service.
Large customers value scale, consistency, and tailored specifications.
A large, integrated protein network requires efficient plants and logistics.
Geography
Pilgrim's operates across the U.S., U.K., Mexico, France, Puerto Rico, the Netherlands, and the Republic of Ireland, with sales reaching more than 120 countries. The company also maintains a large production footprint, including feed mills, hatcheries, processing plants, prepared foods facilities, and distribution centers that support local supply and export markets. Geography matters because the business is exposed to regional demand patterns, labor markets, feed costs, and currency movements.
Risks
Pilgrim's is exposed to cyclical protein markets, especially swings in feed ingredient costs and chicken and pork prices. The company also faces customer concentration, labor relations, biosecurity, weather, cyber, and supply-chain risks because its business depends on continuous animal production, processing uptime, and large customer relationships across multiple countries.
- Commodity cycle exposureImpact: HighLikelihood: Medium
Chicken and pork profitability depends on feed costs and market prices.
Exposure - Customer concentration and buyer powerImpact: HighLikelihood: Medium
Large retailers and foodservice chains can demand lower prices and tailored products.
Exposure: Top U.S. customers and large chain accounts
- Animal health, weather, and disaster disruptionImpact: HighLikelihood: Medium
Disease, extreme weather, and outages can impair flocks, feed supply, and plant output.
Exposure - Labor relations and labor cost inflationImpact: HighLikelihood: Low
A meaningful share of the workforce is union-covered and plants are labor-intensive.
Exposure: Collective bargaining agreements
- Cybersecurity and technology disruptionImpact: MediumLikelihood: Medium
Operational systems support production, logistics, and customer service.
Exposure: Plant operations and corporate systems
Accounting
Judgemental itemsContracts are generally formed when orders are accepted, so timing depends on shipment and acceptance.
Impact: Affects when sales are recorded for fresh, frozen, and value-added products
Feed and protein price changes affect inventory costs and gross margin.
Impact: Can create volatility in cost of sales and ending inventory values
Reporting units are tested using discounted cash flow assumptions and market inputs.
Impact: Changes in discount rates or margins can trigger non-cash impairment charges
Chicken demand peaks in spring/summer and pork demand peaks in winter.
Impact: Quarterly results are not directly comparable across the year
The company must estimate exposures and uncertain tax positions.
Impact: Can affect earnings and balance sheet reserves
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Last updated: 24/09/2026