Life-Science Innovations to acquire Hormel's whole-bird turkey segment

The sale includes Hormel's production facility in Melrose and feed mill in Swanville, Minnesota.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Hormel Foods has reached an agreement to sell its whole-bird turkey business to Life-Science Innovations, a Willmar-based company focused on advancing the agriculture and poultry industries. The sale includes Hormel's whole-bird production facility in Melrose, the feed mill in Swanville, and related transportation assets. Life-Science Innovations will also assume supply contracts for third-party turkey growers and provide co-manufacturing services to Hormel through the end of fiscal year 2026.

Why it matters

The sale allows Hormel to focus on its value-added protein portfolio and reduce exposure to more volatile, commodity-driven businesses. For Life-Science Innovations, the acquisition expands its footprint in the turkey industry and builds on a 75-year relationship with the Jennie-O brand.

The details

Under the agreement, Life-Science Innovations will receive Hormel's whole-bird production facility in Melrose, the feed mill in Swanville, and related transportation assets. The company will also assume supply contracts for third-party turkey growers and provide co-manufacturing services to Hormel through the end of fiscal year 2026. The Jennie-O branded products and name will not be impacted by the sale.

  • The sale is expected to close by the end of the second quarter of fiscal year 2026.
  • Hormel expects the sale to have a low impact on its adjusted 2026 results, which will be made public during the company's upcoming quarter earnings call on Feb. 26.

The players

Hormel Foods Corporation

An Austin-based food company with more than $12 billion in annual revenue, including brands such as Skippy, Spam, and Jennie-O.

Life-Science Innovations

A Willmar-based company focused on advancing the agriculture and poultry industries, with a family of companies that includes Select Genetics, Willmar Poultry Farms, Headstart Hatching, and Next Nest Hatching.

Jeff Ettinger

Interim chief executive officer of Hormel Foods.

Richard Huisinga

Chief executive officer of Life-Science Innovations.

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What they’re saying

“Our strategy for sustainable, profitable growth centers on expanding our value-added protein portfolio to meet evolving consumer needs, while reducing our exposure to more volatile, commodity-driven businesses. We are confident that this portion of our legacy turkey business will be in good hands under LSI's ownership, given their deep experience and expertise in this area.”

— Jeff Ettinger, Interim chief executive officer of Hormel Foods (wctrib.com)

“This agreement is a continuation of a 75-year relationship with Jennie-O. We are excited to combine the country's newest, state-of-the-art hen plant, the Minnesota hen-grower families and our recent first-of-its-kind turkey hatchery.”

— Richard Huisinga, Chief executive officer of Life-Science Innovations (wctrib.com)

What’s next

The sale is expected to close by the end of the second quarter of fiscal year 2026.

The takeaway

This acquisition allows Hormel to focus on its value-added protein portfolio while Life-Science Innovations expands its footprint in the turkey industry, building on a longstanding relationship with the Jennie-O brand.