TEWKSBURY, MASS. — Walden Local Meat Co., based in Tewksbury, Mass., announced the complete acquisition of Vermont Packinghouse (VPH), a premier regional meat processing facility. The financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
VPH is a USDA-inspected facility that specializes in beef and pork. Currently, the processor serves over 100 farms in the Northeast.
Walden Local Meat has been a customer of VPH since 2017 and became a partial owner in 2020.
“Our decision to fully acquire Vermont Packinghouse reflects Walden’s commitment to building a quality supply chain that serves regional producers,” said Nancy Pak, chief executive officer of Walden Local Meat.
“As a long-time customer of the plant, we’ve experienced firsthand the benefit that a positive processor relationship provides to a growing business. We see great potential in expanding the capacity and capabilities of Vermont Packinghouse to serve Northeast farmers and continue to grow the market for local meat.”
VPH was founded in North Springfield, Vt., in 2014 by Rob and Mike Lorentz, the owners of Lorentz Meats. It was from the Lorentz family that Walden Local Meat purchased its majority interest.
“Walden has been a great partner, and we are confident they will continue to serve the farmers of the Northeast to bring locally raised products to the region,” said Mike Lorentz, CEO of Lorentz Meats.