The name change is in support of Smithfield’s “One Smithfield” initiative to unify the company’s brands, marketing and independent units under one corporate identity. C. Larry Pope, president and CEO of Smithfield outlined the corporate campaign in an address to investors in July. Smithfield said in a news release that “The only thing changing is the name. There will be no impact on our workforce, and our business relationships and management structure within this division remain the same.”
Ken Sullivan, executive vice president and CFO, said in a conference call with analysts that the company is pleased with the momentum generated by its Smithfield One initiative, which is expected to reap savings for the company.
“I think we are seeing the benefit this year even of the One Smithfield initiative,” Sullivan said. “I think that may be particularly true on the sales side. I think we’ve still got a lot to come on the manufacturing and distribution side, and I think I’ve also mentioned to you that we are making an effort to harmonize or combine all our ERP systems in the US into a singular system.
“That will be a catalyst to extract some of these savings that I’m talking about on the manufacturing and the transportation side.”
Murphy-Brown, the livestock production unit of Smithfield Foods, has headquarters in Warsaw, NC. Approximately 5,000 individuals work for the company in 12 states. The unit produces 16 million market hogs per year and manages approximately 450 hog farms in the United States. The unit also partners with more than 2,000 independent farmers and contract growers.
Circle Four has operations throughout southern Utah and headquarters in Milford. The company employs approximately 450 individuals. The production facility includes 74,000 sows, 156,000 nursery and 454,000 finishing spaces.
