Smithfield Foods Splits European Operations

Smithfield Foods has announced the separation of its European operations, rebranding them as Morliny Foods, to enhance growth opportunities for both this new entity and its North American operations. Both Morliny Foods and Smithfield Foods will remain subsidiaries of WH Group, which acquired Smithfield in 2013. This strategic move aims to allow each business to adopt distinct operational strategies tailored to their respective market dynamics, particularly since the European meat market is more fragmented than North America's. Shane Smith, president and CEO of Smithfield, emphasized that this change will provide management teams with increased agility in decision-making. Morliny Foods will focus on supplying fresh pork, poultry, and packaged meats across several European countries, including Poland and the UK. Meanwhile, Smithfield Foods plans to continue driving growth in North America through product innovation and optimization of its operations.