Perdue Farms Chairman Jim Perdue this week received the National Protein and Food Distributors Association (NPFDA) Lifetime Achievement Award.
Perdue, the 33rd recipient of the award, joins his father Frank Perdue, who was the first to receive the award in 1991.
“My grandfather, Arthur W. Perdue, built our business on quality, integrity, and trust, and my father transformed the industry. I’m proud to carry on their legacy into our company’s second century,” Perdue said. “While the business may have changed over the years, our values continue to guide our decisions today. I’m humbled by this recognition but accept the award on behalf of the thousands of hard-working associates who have made this company what it is today.”
After obtaining a master’s degree and a doctorate, Perdue returned to the company in 1983 and held various leadership positions. He became CEO and Chairman of the Board in 1991.
Under his leadership, Perdue Farms expanded its portfolio brands to include chicken, pork, beef, turkey, and lamb and was the first major poultry company to move all its chickens to no-antibiotics-ever protocols.
Perdue is also actively involved in community organizations and serves on the board of the Oyster Recovery Partnership, a nonprofit expert in Chesapeake Bay oyster restoration.
