Pilgrim's history

JBS was founded by Jose Batista Sobrinho in 1953 and is headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil.“

But in 1966, Aubrey Pilgrim died of a heart attack at 42, and, aware of his family’s history of heart ailments, Bo Pilgrim began a campaign to live healthier.

In 1968, Lonnie and Aubrey's heirs reincorporated the business as Pilgrim Industries, Inc.

Beginning in January 1983, Pilgrim began promoting his company and the Pilgrim's Pride label through an award-winning television commercial, in which he appeared wearing a Pilgrim's hat as he affably related the superiority of his product line.

Twice over the years, commodity chicken down-cycles had almost bankrupted Pilgrim's Pride." Pilgrim's solution to this problem came in January 1986, when the company began operating a state-of-the-art "further processed" facility at Mt.

The second well-timed decision was Pilgrim's entry into the Mexican consumer market with the late 1987 acquisition of four fully integrated poultry operations serving the populous hub of Mexico City.

Despite such warning signals, several analysts were surprised by a management reorganization announced in August, which involved the replacement of William Voss, president since 1988.

Two well-timed decisions enabled Pilgrim's Pride to rebound dramatically in 1989.

In 1991, the company spent $34.4 million on improving the efficiency of its Mexican facilities and another $26.1 million on improving its domestic plants.

For the first nine months of fiscal 1992, ending June 27, the company sustained a net loss of $17.1 million.

The deal was completed in late June and served to extend Pilgrim's loan maturities until May 1, 1993.

Then, in May 1994, a debt restructuring was announced that would allow the company greater latitude in repaying its short-term obligations.

In 1995 the company spent $32 million for five chicken operations known collectively as Union de Queretaro.

Pilgrim’s memoir, “One Pilgrim’s Progress: How to Build a World-Class Company and Who to Credit,” published in 2005.

2007 JBS is the first meat processing company to go public on the Brazilian stock market.

Pilgrim was forced into bankruptcy in 2008 but emerged the following year after repaying creditors and salvaging some value for stockholders.

2009 JBS incorporates Bertin, at that time Brazil’s second-largest meat processing company, and takes a controlling stake in Pilgrim’s Pride, its first step into the US poultry market.

2010 The group acquires Tatiara Meats and the assets of Rockdale Beef, in Australia, as well as the Toledo Group in Belgium.

2012 In the US, JBS once again increases its Pilgrim’s Pride stake to 75.3% of the company.

2013 The company acquires Seara Brasil and consolidates its position as a global poultry processor.