Pilgrim’s Pride reports US$1.08B profit for 2025 amid global expansion

BRAZIL – Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., a subsidiary of JBS S.A., reported a net profit of US$1.08 billion for the year ending December 28, 2025, down slightly from US$1.09 billion in 2024.

Revenue for the full year reached US$18.5 billion, a 3.5% increase from 2024.

The US Fresh portfolio recorded higher volumes from key customers in both Case Ready and Small Bird categories, with Case Ready volumes nearly doubling year-over-year.

Within the foodservice segment, sales of boneless dark meat, wings, and tenders increased, despite lower overall foot traffic in quick-service restaurants.

Pilgrim’s US Prepared Foods unit grew revenue by 20% in 2025, led by the Just Bare brand, which increased retail sales by more than 50% and reached US$1 billion in total retail sales.

The company broke ground in November 2025 on a new prepared foods plant in Walker County, Georgia, with a US$400 million investment expected to create over 630 jobs and expand operational space by 300,000 square feet.

Pilgrim’s is converting a Big Bird facility into a Case Ready plant in the United States, with completion anticipated in April 2026, to support increased production capacity and product differentiation.

In Europe, sales and adjusted EBITDA rose as the company implemented manufacturing optimizations, management integration, and mix improvements, with volume growth for key brands exceeding grocery channel averages.

Pilgrim’s Europe has undergone a significant transformation over the past three years, strengthening its structure to support innovation and branded portfolio growth.

In Mexico, branded sales in both Fresh and Prepared Foods grew more than 8% during 2025, though profitability was affected by weaker commodity prices in the second half of the year.

The company is pursuing long-term expansion in Mexico, including domestic supply growth, national distribution, and doubling fully cooked product capacity at the El Porvenir facility, with investments totaling US$1.3 billion through 2030.

For the fourth quarter ending December 28, 2025, Pilgrim’s reported revenue of US$4.5 billion, up from US$4.4 billion in Q4 2024, while net income fell to US$88 million, or 37¢ per share, from US$236 million, or 99¢ per share, the previous year.

The US business offset declining commodity values through strong demand across Case Ready, Small Bird, and Prepared Foods, while operational efficiency in Big Bird contributed to overall results.

European operations delivered nearly 9% growth in adjusted EBITDA in Q4, driven by increased sales of higher-attribute poultry and continued improvements in operational performance.

Mexico’s fourth-quarter performance remained constrained by rising imports and weaker commodity fundamentals, although Fresh category branded sales increased by nearly 10% year-over-year.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.