The West Liberty Foods story began in 1996, but our company is based on a rich tradition of quality and pride.

1943: Louis H. Rich moves the Rock Island Produce Company to West Liberty, Iowa.
1946: The plant is converted to a chicken slaughter facility.
1949: Martin and Norman Rich, sons of Louis, refocus the company on turkey products.
1960: Rock Island Produce Company changed its name to Louis Rich Foods, Inc. and undertook the first expansion of the West Liberty Plant.
1979: The company is acquired by Oscar Mayer, General Foods, and finally Philip Morris.
1996: Oscar Mayer, a division of Phillip Morris, announced they were closing the West Liberty plant effective December 31, 1996.
The Iowa Turkey Growers Cooperative (ITGC) was formed by 47 Iowa-based turkey growers and purchased the West Liberty, Iowa plant to do business as West Liberty Foods.
1997: The first turkeys were processed by the Cooperative.
2000: Purchased the Sigourney, Iowa Facility
2002: Opened USDA inspected Research and Development Center
2003: Opened Mount Pleasant, Iowa Facility
2004: Expansion of the Mount Pleasant, Iowa Facilty
2005:  Opened state-of-the-art Quality Assurance Laboratory
2006:  Formed Sales & Marketing Alliance with Norbest®
2007: Opened Tremonton, Utah Facility
2008: Expansion of Tremonton, Utah Facility