O.K. Industries has been acquired by Industrias Bachoco S.A.B de C.V., Mexico’s leading producer and processor of poultry and other food products, according to a news release today.
It was reported that O.K. Industries processes 2.5 million chickens per week with total annual sales of approximately $600 million. The company supplies grocery retailers, foodservice distributors, and commodity customers in the U.S. and foreign markets.
O.K. Industries, a family company, was founded in Fort Smith, Arkansas in 1933. Collier Wenderoth, a visionary leader in the Arkansas poultry was named company president in 1955 after his father’s death and subsequently served as longtime chairman of the board. Wenderoth died in June this year at the age of 87.
“This acquisition is one of the most transcendental steps for Bochoco, since it is our first international acquisition and first entry into the U.S. poultry market,” Rodolfo Ramos, Bachoco’s chief executive officer, said. Bachoco said it will continue to operate its newly-acquired entity as O.K. Industries, Inc., and an O.K. Industry spokeman said the company is pleased to know that its 4,000 local workers and regional growers will be integrated into the new company.
