ALMA, GA. – Stampede Meat Inc., based in Bridgeview, Ill., announced on Jan. 31 the acquisition of DL Lee & Sons Inc., which gives the company a larger production footprint in the Southeast.  

With the agreement, Stampede now features a 155,000-square-foot facility in Alma, Ga. The plant utilizes smoking and sous vide cooking technology to facilitate processing more than 80 million lbs of products per year. The company said the partnership gave it the largest sous vide cooking capacity in North America.

 “It’s very rewarding to see just how far we have come in four short years since we decided to expand outside of Illinois,” said Vito Giustino, chief operations officer of Stampede. “As we continue to see demand accelerate for sous vide cooked products at both retail and foodservice customers this partnership positions Stampede to immediately address these opportunities for our valued customers.”

Brock Furlong, chief executive officer and president of Stampede, said the two companies are a good fit. 

 “This partnership is so much more than an acquisition.” Furlong said. “I have an abundant respect for the generations of Lee family members that have created this successful company. We feel our Stampede company values align with the Lee family’s values – both brands strongly committed to our customers.” 

Founded in the early 1930s, DL Lee & Sons Inc. has worked with farmers and local Georgia communities for five generations of the Lee family. Fourth-generation Lee family members lead the company today and continue its successful growth. 

“We are very excited to bring our retail expertise and family values to the Stampede Team and look forward to growing our brands nationally through this new partnership,” said Dave Lee, president of DL Lee & Sons.

The company provides various meat products to customers throughout the Southeast and Puerto Rico.   

Stampede Meat operates facilities in Oak Lawn and Bedford Park, Ill. The facilities currently produce a wide variety of products including chicken, turkey, pork, vegetables, soups, prepared meals and alternative proteins. 

The company also expanded out of the Midwest in 2018 when it opened a processing facility in Sunland Park, NM. In 2021, it also added Stampede North, a facility in Cambridge, Ontario.