West Liberty Foods was formed in 1996 under the guiding principles of the Iowa Turkey Growers Cooperative. Carrying on Iowa’s rich farming tradition, our grower/owners are committed to animal health and welfare while delivering superior-quality turkeys—a philosophy that has helped family farms grow and thrive for generations. The continued success of West Liberty Foods is due to the dedication, enthusiasm and support of our grower/owners.
We also know the importance of taking care of the community. From partnerships with local schools and service organizations to corporate donations and employee wellness programs, West Liberty Foods strives to make a positive long-term impact through our business.
1996 47 Iowa turkey growers form the Iowa Turkey Growers Cooperative (ITGC)
1996 ITGC purchases former Louis Rich facility in West Liberty, Iowa
1997 First turkeys are processed by West Liberty Foods
2002 Research and development center opens in West Liberty
2003 Mount Pleasant, Iowa, facility opens with Clean Room Food Processing Systems in place—first in the nation with this technology
2005 State-of-the-art quality assurance laboratory opens in West Liberty
2007 Expansion moves west, with new greenfield facility in Tremonton, Utah—built around sustainability and setting new standards in food safety
2007 West Liberty Foods becomes the first US manufacturer to use 10-foot logs in everyday slicing operations
2008 Hearts & Hands Children’s Academy opens, providing child care for West Liberty Foods team members
2010 Clean Room Food Processing Systems, Methods and Structures patented
2012 West Liberty Foods is the first US manufacturer of its size to be verified landfill free by NSF International Strategic Registrations
2013 Mount Pleasant and Tremonton facilities install High Pressure Processing (HPP) systems
2014 Bolingbrook, Illinois, manufacturing facility opens
2016 Bolingbrook ISO certification and landfill-free verification achieved
2016 Ribbon cutting for Liberty Cold, our state-of-the-art 175,000-square-foot cold storage and distribution facility
2016 Bolingbrook ISO certification and landfill-free verification achieved
2017 Purchased Crystal Lake Farms, a pasture-raised, slow growth chicken operation located in Decatur, Arkansas