In the United States, National Beef is not just a meat processing plant, but an important player in the global beef industry. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, the company specializes in the production of fresh, chilled and further processed beef and its by-products for customers around the world.
"National Beef's success is not only a victory of a business model, but also a historical journey that can break through the siege."
National Beef was founded in 1992 when Farmland Industries acquired a slaughterhouse in Dodge City, Kansas. In the following years, the company expanded its operations, purchasing a facility in Liberal and in 1997 forming a joint venture with U.S. Premium Beef Ltd.
After years of growth and change, National Beef became the fourth largest beef processor in the United States in 2003. Since then, the company has made several acquisitions to strengthen its market position.
"In 2006, the acquisition of Brawley Beef allowed National Beef to expand its presence in the western United States."
Today, National Beef has annual sales of more than $7 billion, with multiple processing plants and offices throughout the United States and an international presence. The company's products include boxed beef, consumer ready-to-eat beef and various branded meats, and it provides professional supporting services to supermarkets, distributors and the catering service industry.
"National Beef is committed to achieving the highest standards in food safety and uses the BioLogic Food Safety System."
National Beef's products include a variety of beef processing technologies, and its flagship products, boxed beef and consumer ready-to-eat beef, are very popular in the market. The company also owns brands such as Kansas City Steak Company, which focuses on providing consumers with portion-controlled beef products.
In addition, National Beef operates the world's largest wet blue tanning facility, and tanned leather products from its facilities are widely used in the automotive, luxury goods and furniture industries.
Despite National Beef's astonishing growth, the company also faces various controversies and challenges. From 2011 to 2021, several legal cases concerning worker safety and unfair pay have surfaced one after another, attracting widespread attention from the society. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, the discovery that thousands of employees within the company were infected with the virus once again raised public doubts about the working environment.
"Over the past decade, National Beef has been involved in legal disputes from time to time, and has had to deal with the struggle between business ethics and social responsibility."
National Beef's continued growth not only depends on an effective business model and brand strategy, but also requires continuous improvement and response to external environment and internal challenges. The company is under increasing pressure to adapt as market demands change and consumers demand greater transparency into the origins of their food.
Competition in the international beef market is becoming increasingly fierce. Can National Beef continue to rise and maintain its market leadership in such an environment?