Top 10 Meat Brands Partnering with Fast-Food Chains

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Written by Robert Gultig

10 February 2025

Introduction

The partnership between meat brands and fast-food chains has become increasingly popular in recent years. This report will delve into the top 10 meat brands that have successfully partnered with fast-food chains, examining their financials, volumes, and overall impact on the industry.

1. McDonald’s and Tyson Foods

McDonald’s, one of the largest fast-food chains in the world, has a longstanding partnership with Tyson Foods, a leading meat brand. Tyson Foods supplies McDonald’s with a variety of meat products, including chicken, beef, and pork. This partnership has been highly successful, with Tyson Foods reporting a revenue of $42.4 billion in 2020.

Financials:

– Tyson Foods revenue: $42.4 billion in 2020

– McDonald’s revenue: $19.2 billion in 2020

Volumes:

– Tyson Foods supplies McDonald’s with over 1 billion pounds of chicken annually

– McDonald’s uses approximately 1.5 billion pounds of beef per year, supplied by Tyson Foods

2. KFC and Pilgrim’s Pride

KFC, known for its fried chicken offerings, partners with Pilgrim’s Pride, a major meat brand specializing in poultry products. Pilgrim’s Pride supplies KFC with high-quality chicken for its menu items. This partnership has been beneficial for both companies, with Pilgrim’s Pride reporting a revenue of $12.2 billion in 2020.

Financials:

– Pilgrim’s Pride revenue: $12.2 billion in 2020

– KFC revenue: $4.2 billion in 2020

Volumes:

– Pilgrim’s Pride supplies KFC with over 500 million pounds of chicken annually

3. Subway and Hormel Foods

Subway, a popular sandwich chain, partners with Hormel Foods, a leading meat brand known for its deli meats and bacon products. Hormel Foods supplies Subway with a range of meat options for its sandwiches and salads. This partnership has been successful, with Hormel Foods reporting a revenue of $9.5 billion in 2020.

Financials:

– Hormel Foods revenue: $9.5 billion in 2020

– Subway revenue: $10.4 billion in 2020

Volumes:

– Hormel Foods supplies Subway with over 200 million pounds of deli meats annually

4. Burger King and Cargill

Burger King, a popular fast-food chain, partners with Cargill, a major meat brand specializing in beef products. Cargill supplies Burger King with high-quality beef for its burgers and sandwiches. This partnership has been mutually beneficial, with Cargill reporting a revenue of $114.6 billion in 2020.

Financials:

– Cargill revenue: $114.6 billion in 2020

– Burger King revenue: $1.8 billion in 2020

Volumes:

– Cargill supplies Burger King with over 300 million pounds of beef annually

5. Wendy’s and Smithfield Foods

Wendy’s, a fast-food chain known for its square hamburgers, partners with Smithfield Foods, a leading meat brand specializing in pork products. Smithfield Foods supplies Wendy’s with high-quality pork for its menu items. This partnership has been successful, with Smithfield Foods reporting a revenue of $15.2 billion in 2020.

Financials:

– Smithfield Foods revenue: $15.2 billion in 2020

– Wendy’s revenue: $1.7 billion in 2020

Volumes:

– Smithfield Foods supplies Wendy’s with over 150 million pounds of pork annually

6. Taco Bell and JBS USA

Taco Bell, a popular Mexican-inspired fast-food chain, partners with JBS USA, a major meat brand specializing in beef and pork products. JBS USA supplies Taco Bell with a variety of meat options for its menu items. This partnership has been successful, with JBS USA reporting a revenue of $51.7 billion in 2020.

Financials:

– JBS USA revenue: $51.7 billion in 2020

– Taco Bell revenue: $2.3 billion in 2020

Volumes:

– JBS USA supplies Taco Bell with over 400 million pounds of beef and pork annually

7. Chick-fil-A and Perdue Farms

Chick-fil-A, a popular chicken-focused fast-food chain, partners with Perdue Farms, a leading meat brand specializing in poultry products. Perdue Farms supplies Chick-fil-A with high-quality chicken for its menu items. This partnership has been successful, with Perdue Farms reporting a revenue of $7.5 billion in 2020.

Financials:

– Perdue Farms revenue: $7.5 billion in 2020

– Chick-fil-A revenue: $11.3 billion in 2020

Volumes:

– Perdue Farms supplies Chick-fil-A with over 300 million pounds of chicken annually

8. Pizza Hut and Johnsonville

Pizza Hut, a popular pizza chain, partners with Johnsonville, a major meat brand specializing in sausage products. Johnsonville supplies Pizza Hut with a range of sausage options for its pizzas and pasta dishes. This partnership has been successful, with Johnsonville reporting a revenue of $1.8 billion in 2020.

Financials:

– Johnsonville revenue: $1.8 billion in 2020

– Pizza Hut revenue: $5.5 billion in 2020

Volumes:

– Johnsonville supplies Pizza Hut with over 50 million pounds of sausage annually

9. Arby’s and Boar’s Head

Arby’s, known for its roast beef sandwiches, partners with Boar’s Head, a leading meat brand specializing in deli meats. Boar’s Head supplies Arby’s with high-quality roast beef and other deli meats for its menu items. This partnership has been successful, with Boar’s Head reporting a revenue of $1.5 billion in 2020.

Financials:

– Boar’s Head revenue: $1.5 billion in 2020

– Arby’s revenue: $3.7 billion in 2020

Volumes:

– Boar’s Head supplies Arby’s with over 30 million pounds of deli meats annually

10. Dairy Queen and Farmland Foods

Dairy Queen, a popular ice cream and fast-food chain, partners with Farmland Foods, a major meat brand specializing in pork products. Farmland Foods supplies Dairy Queen with high-quality pork for its menu items. This partnership has been successful, with Farmland Foods reporting a revenue of $3.2 billion in 2020.

Financials:

– Farmland Foods revenue: $3.2 billion in 2020

– Dairy Queen revenue: $3.9 billion in 2020

Volumes:

– Farmland Foods supplies Dairy Queen with over 80 million pounds of pork annually

Overall, the partnerships between these top 10 meat brands and fast-food chains have been highly successful, contributing to their respective revenues and volumes. These collaborations have allowed fast-food chains to offer high-quality meat products to their customers, while providing meat brands with a steady source of demand for their products. As the industry continues to evolve, these partnerships will likely play a significant role in shaping the future of the meat and fast-food industries.

Read: The State of the Global Meat Industry in 2025

Related Analysis: View Previous Industry Report

Author: Robert Gultig in conjunction with ESS Research Team

Robert Gultig is a veteran Managing Director and International Trade Consultant with over 20 years of experience in global trading and market research. Robert leverages his deep industry knowledge and strategic marketing background (BBA) to provide authoritative market insights in conjunction with the ESS Research Team. If you would like to contribute articles or insights, please join our team by emailing support@essfeed.com.
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