Company Profile
West Liberty Foods
Company Overview
West Liberty Foods is a leading co-packer and private label manufacturer of processed meat and poultry products with operating facilities in West Liberty, Iowa, Mt. Pleasant, Iowa and Tremonton, Utah. West Liberty Foods is committed to making the world a better place for our customers, team members, and the communities in which we operate. We take pride in providing a safe and ethical environment for our team members to work in and each one of our facilities holds to the highest food safety and quality standards in the industry.
Company History
The West Liberty Foods story began in 1996, yet it is the continuation of over 70 years of unique history and unprecedented growth.
In 1943, Louis H. Rich established the Rock Island Produce Company from Rock Island, Illinois, to West Liberty, Iowa. By 1946, the plant was converted to a chicken slaughter facility. Martin and Norman Rich, both sons of Louis, decided the company would undergo a massive revamp, and thus in 1949 the company began focusing on turkey products. In 1960, The Rock Island Produce Company changed their name to Louis Rich Foods, Inc. and undertook the first expansion of the West Liberty facility.
19 years later, in 1979, the company was acquired by Oscar Mayer, General Foods, and Phillip Morris. The facility ran until 1996, when Oscar Mayer, a division of Phillip Morris, announced they were closing the West Liberty facility effective December 31.
At that time, the Iowa Turkey Growers Cooperative (ITGC) was formed by 47 Iowa-based turkey growers. ITGC purchased the West Liberty, Iowa facility and began to run their business as West Liberty Foods. In 1997, the first turkeys were processed by the Cooperative.
Three years later, in 2000, West Liberty Foods purchased a facility in Sigourney, Iowa. In 2002, the USDA-inspected Research and Development Center was opened in West Liberty, Iowa. One year later, the Mount Pleasant, Iowa facility was opened and then expanded in 2004. By 2005, West Liberty Foods opened a state-of-the-art Quality Assurance Laboratory in West Liberty. Only four years after the opening of the Mount Pleasant, Iowa plant, West Liberty Foods expanded towards the west by building and opening a new facility in Tremonton, Utah in 2007.
Finally, in 2008, the expansion was completed at the Tremonton, Utah facility which included the opening of a Daycare Academy in the city of Tremonton.
From a small operation in Rock Island, Illinois to a giant multinational corporation, and now to an Iowa grower-owned cooperation, we have been and will continue to be a leader in innovation, food safety, and quality products.
Notable Accomplishments / Recognition
2010 Private Label Buyer's Category Colonels Award Winner
Excellence In Private Label Partnership Programs
Awarded to West Liberty Foods for our meat product line.
2010 Subway Research & Development Award
for Reduced Sodium Roast Beef
Awarded to West Liberty Foods R&D
Accepted by Scott Schallenberger, Director of R&D Western Division
2010 Subway Leadership Award
Awarded to Dr. Lee Johnson, Vice President of Technical Services
2009 National Provisioner's Processor of the Year Award
Ameritas and The National Provisioner's HR Evolution Award
Subway Supply Chain Partner Award
July 21, 2008
West Liberty Foods Receives Subway's Supply Chain Partner Award at the 2008 Subway Convention in Las Vegas.
Iowa-Illinois Safety Council Safety Award
April 18, 2008
West Liberty Foods receives Safety Award from the Iowa-Illinois Safety Council.
Food Quality Award
March 18, 2008
West Liberty Foods receives 7th Annual Food Quality Award from DuPont Qualicon.
Subway Co-Vendor of the Year Award
August 4, 2007
West Liberty Foods and Millard Refrigerated Services Receive Subway Co-Vendor of the Year Award.
Subway Leadership Award
August 1, 2007
Subway names Ed Garrett, West Liberty Foods as the recipient of the 2007 Subway Leadership Award.
Quality Gold Standard Award
July 20, 2006
West Liberty Foods awarded the Quality Gold Standard Award at the Subway Convention in Toronto. This award was presented to the vendor who "met and exceeded" Subway expectations in 2006.
Safety Award from Iowa-Illinois Safety Council
April 24, 2006
West Liberty Foods, L.L.C. (Mount Pleasant and Sigourney Plants) Awarded Safety Awards from the Iowa-Illinois Safety Council during their 53rd Annual Professional Development Conference and Expo held in Dubuque, Iowa, April 20-21, 2006. The awards were presented for outstanding achievement in accident prevention during the 2005 calendar year.
Dedicated Service Award
July 21, 2005
West Liberty Foods, L.L.C. receives Dedicated Service Award at the SUBWAY® Convention in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Economic Vision Award
August 23, 2005
USDA rural development presents the Iowa Turkey Growers Cooperative with an Economic Vision Award.
Best Business Recycling Program
October 18, 2005
Iowa Recycling Association presents West Liberty Foods, L.L.C. with the 2005 Iowa Recycling Award for the Best Business Recycling Program.
ISO 14001 Certified
January 12, 2004
The West Liberty Facility was ISO 14001 certified on January 12, 2004 as the first turkey processing plant certified in the United States!
Iowa Grocery Association Supplier of the Year Award
2003
Subway Supplier of the Year Award
2001
Iowa Venture Award
2000
Hormel's "Spirit of Excellence Award"
1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002