History
Casa de Carnes Mineira founded in Anápolis ((GO)
It was in the city of Anápolis (GO) that José Batista Sobrinho, aka “Zé Mineiro”, planted the seeds of what is today JBS .
Moves to Brasília (DF)
The beginning of the construction of Brasília, in the Federal District, one of the landmarks of the government of president Juscelino Kubistchek, created growth opportunities for many Brazilians. José Batista became one of the first suppliers of beef to the construction sites that gave rise to the federal capital.
Acquisition of the first meatpacking plant and the birth of the Friboi name
When the construction of Brasília (DF) ended, the Company’s founder saw the opportunity to expand his business by purchasing the first beef cattle processing plant in Formosa (GO). This was the first time that the Company operated a unit of the Federal Inspectorate Service (SIF). It was then that the Friboi brand appeared, a name derived by combining the words “frigorifico” and “boi.”
Acquisition of the Luziânia-GO unit
Having sold the Planaltina-DF unit, he built a soap factory. Three years went by and the passion for the beef industry was too strong to resist. This motivated the acquisition of a new unit in Luziânia (GO).
Unit in Anápolis (GO), the first to have a deboning room
To increase production capacity, the company leased and then purchased from Grupo Bordon the unit in Anápolis (GO). This initiative represented a major step, since it was there that the first deboned beef was commercialized.
Acquisition of the unit in Goiânia (GO) and the start of exports
The purchase of the unit in Goiânia (GO) from Anglo opened the doors to the overseas market for the company’s products, with its first exportation
Acquisition of the unit at Barra dos Garças (MT) and the beginning of the foundations of the JBS management system
It was at the Barra dos Garças (MT) unit that the foundations of the JBS management system were laid. The deployment of these tools enhanced the company’s ability to operate its plants distributed across Brazil.
Acquisition of the Andradina (SP) unit
JBS debuts in the processed foods business, enabling it to enter the US market. It was also the company’s first plant in the State of São Paulo.
Installation of the corporate headquarters in the city of São Paulo (SP)
The year 2004 was a major step forward in the history of JBS, with the transfer of the head office to São Paulo city, centralizing all operations in an iconic building for the meat industry.
Acquisition of Swift in Argentina
The company set its internationalization process in motion after acquiring the operations of Swift Armour in Argentina, that country’s largest and best-known brand in the industry.
The company goes public and acquires Swift in the United States and Australia
The year 2007 was one of transformation. JBS listed on the São Paulo Stock Exchange in the largest IPO ever registered up until then on the domestic market. The company then took the name JBS in honor of its founder, José Batista Sobrinho. That same year, JBS acquired Swift in the United States and Australia. This was a leap in the internationalization of the company, which began operating pork and lamb processing units.
Expansion of the overseas business and consolidation as the meat industry leader
JBS acquires the Tasman Group in Australia; Smithfield Beef, the beef division of Smithfield Foods in the USA; and the feedlots of Five Rivers, with an annual capacity of two million animals.
Acquisition of Pilgrim’s in the United States and the takeover of Bertin in Brazil
By acquiring shareholding control of Pilgrim’s Pride, JBS highlighted its entry into the chicken-based poultry and prepared foods sector. And in Brazil, the takeover of Bertin consolidated the Company’s position as the leading company in the beef segment. The operation opened the doors to the wet blue and semi-finished hides processing industry, as well as other core business-related operations.
Growth in the European market
JBS acquires Italian sausage company Rigamonti.
New investments in the United States market and expansion of beef cattle processing capacity in Brazil
In the USA, JBS raises its equity stake in Pilgrim’s Pride, reaffirming its belief in the potential of the country’s chicken meat industry. In Brazil, it expands its annual beef cattle processing capacity by 2 million head and commences operations in the poultry segment, expanding its global production capacity by 15% by leasing assets of Frangosul.
Strengthening of the Company in the prepared foods segment; global leadership in leather processing; additional expansion in North America
The acquisition of Seara firmly established JBS as one of the leading companies in the poultry, pork and prepared foods industry in the Brazilian market. JBS also acquires Zenda, leather industry leader headquartered in Uruguay and with operations in several countries. This purchase makes JBS the world’s largest leather processing company. In North America, JBS acquires the assets of XL Foods in the USA and Canada.
Expansion of the poultry operations in Brazil and Mexico
JBS acquires the poultry operations of the company Tyson in Brazil and Mexico.
A year of robust expansion and international consolidation: Australia, Europe and The United States
The Company acquired Primo Smallgoods, Australian market leader; Moy Park, marking progress in constructing the platform for producing and distributing JBS prepared products in Europe; and the pork operations of Cargill in the USA, which positioned JBS as the second-largest pork processing company on the American market.
Acquisition of Gold’n Plump
Pilgrim’s acquires GNP, a high value-added chicken products company with a nationwide presence in the USA. The acquisition enabled JBS to expand its production and its customer base geographically, in addition to an extensive organic-certified product portfolio.
Acquisitions in the United Kingdom and Brazil: Tulip and Marba
Pilgrim’s closes the acquisition of Tulip, a leading pork producing company with operations in the United Kingdom. The purchase makes PPC leader in protein and prepared foods in Europe. In Brazil, in line with the Company’s strategy of expanding its market share in higher value-added products, Seara acquires Marba, one of the most traditional brands in the cold cuts and sausage segment and a reference in the Bologna sausage segment in São Paulo. That same year, Seara also launches the Incrível range, with the option of 100% plant-based foods.
Launch of important projects for the strategy of the JBS business units
During the year, JBS rolls out the Good Deeds Do Good program dedicated to engaging in high-impact transformative and social support actions. The year 2020 also saw the launch of the JBS Fund for the Amazon dedicated to promoting and financing initiatives and projects whose aim is the sustainable development of the Amazon Biome. In addition, through Seara, JBS acquires the margarine and mayonnaise assets of Bunge in Brazil, while JBS USA concludes the acquisition of a shareholder interest in the Empire Packing Company, L.P.
Programs and projects to perpetuate the Company
JBS announces its objective of being Net Zero by 2040. The company has committed to zeroing the net balance of the greenhouse gas emissions from its direct and indirect operations and to offset the residual emissions. That same year, JBS acquires Vivera, Europe’s third-largest producer of plant-based products, in addition to announcing the acquisition of Spanish company BioTech Foods, signaling its arrival on the cultivated protein market. Pilgrim's Pride also acquires the food business of the Kerry Group in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The purchase includes the Kerry Meats and Kerry Meals brands. In Australia, it acquires Rivalea, the country’s leading pig breeder and pork processing company. The purchase of Huon Aquaculture, Australia’s second-largest salmon producer, marks the debut of JBS in the aquaculture business with in-house production of fish. In the United States, Swift Prepared Foods announces the acquisition of Sunnyvalley Smoked Meats, an important producer of smoked bacon, ham and turkey breast. Also in 2021, Rigamonti announces the acquisition of Grupo Kings, market leader in the production of Italian charcutier, with plants in Italy and the United States.
Expansion of investments in new segments
JBS USA announces the acquisition of TriOak Foods, boosting the company’s ability to provide high-quality pork products. Conclusion of the acquisition of a majority shareholding in BioTech Foods. The Company also announces having chosen the city of Florianópolis (SC) for the JBS Biotech Innovation Center, a center for research, development and innovation in the biotechnology of food and cultivated protein in Brazil.
70 years of history
JBS is celebrating its 70th birthday. A company that began as a small butcher’s shop in the inland city of Anápolis, in the state of Goiás is, today, one of the world’s largest food companies. Also in 2023, JBS is evolving its brand. A process of evolution reflecting the present moment: a multi-protein, multi-geography dynamic company focused on the future.
