Iconic Brand has an Eye to the Future
Butterball has been part of dinner table traditions for families since 1954. Today, after 70 years in business, the company still has a sole focus on turkey, ensuring its products are consistent, healthy and responsibly produced.
Butterball is headquartered in Garner, North Carolina with locations across the country and a customer base around the globe. It exports to over 30 countries, striving to develop diverse and high-quality products to meet the various needs of different cultures.
For domestic consumers, Butterball produces an array of turkey products, including ground turkey, sausage links and bacon, burgers, deli meat, roasts, breasts, tenderloins—and of course, whole turkeys.
Long-term Partners
“We are constantly assessing and evaluating how and where we can improve,” said Jay Jandrain, president and CEO of Butterball. “It’s imperative our products stay affordable. Through it all, we are committed to our customers. And in turn, we’ve also relied more heavily on our own partnerships as we navigate through it.”
Butterball has had a longtime relationship with AgCarolina Farm Credit and became a CoBank customer in 2006.
“Our relationships with CoBank and AgCarolina have been incredible. Especially through the difficulties of the pandemic, they have remained steadfast—they truly understand our business—and not only that, the business of our partners and growers. Without our turkey growers, Butterball does not exist. CoBank came into our relationship with a long-term view, understanding that times might be a little difficult now, but they are here through it,” Jandrain said.
Despite recent industry challenges, Butterball has remained steady and profitable, utilizing a new long-term credit facility led by CoBank.
“Now more than ever, Butterball is excited for the future. CoBank is one of our biggest champions—it’s not just transactional, it’s a relationship. We couldn’t be more grateful for that, so we can focus on what matters—producing great-tasting turkey that brings people together,” Jandrain said.
This story was originally published in CoBank’s Annual Report.
