Perdue and LNK Partners announced that Natural Food Holdings, including the well-known Niman Ranch® brand, is being purchased by Perdue.

“This represents the next chapter in our growth through premium proteins and trusted brands,” said Perdue Farms Chairman Jim Perdue. “The Niman Ranch brand continues our commitment to raising animals without antibiotics or artificial growth stimulants, and to responsible food and agriculture.”

LNK Partners, a private equity firm, is selling Natural Food Holdings to Perdue for an undisclosed amount. The two companies signed a definitive agreement for the sale and expect to close the transaction soon.

Niman Ranch began in the early 1970s on a small ranch in California, and has grown to include more than 700 independent family farmers and ranchers, spread across the country. The Niman Ranch brand covers a complete line of pork, beef, lamb, cage-free eggs and a variety of smoked and cured meats. All products are sourced from animals raised to high welfare standards and without any antibiotics.

“With the long, family-owned heritage of our company, we understand and respect what Niman Ranch represents,” said Jim Perdue. “All Niman Ranch livestock will continue to be raised by the same small family farmers and ranchers, following the same protocols, and with the same focus on sustainability.”

“We are excited to become part of Perdue,” said Jeff Swain, Natural Food Holdings’ Chief Executive Officer. “With Perdue being a family-owned business and the Perdue commitment to responsible food and agriculture, it was the perfect fit to help us continue to grow and prosper while staying true to our brand’s mission.”

Through the acquisition, Perdue also acquired the Prairie Grove brand and the SiouxPreme Packing plants in Sioux City and Sioux Center, Iowa.

“This is more than adding volume and capacity,” said Randy Day, President, Perdue Foods. “This acquisition is an important step forward in growing our pork business through premium brands with high standards for animal welfare and sustainable agricultural practices. We hope to grow the number of family farmers in the Niman Ranch network, and expand distribution into more cities across the country, thereby reaching more consumers and providing greater access to sustainably produced meat.”

Perdue’s food brands include PERDUE®, PERDUE® SIMPLY SMART® NO ANTIBIOTICS EVER™ chicken, PERDUE® HARVESTLAND® NO ANTIBIOTICS EVER™ chicken, turkey and pork, COLEMAN® NATURAL® and COLEMAN PREMIUM ® NO ANTIBIOTICS EVER™ meats, COLEMAN® ORGANIC® chicken and several local West Coast brands of organic, NO ANTIBIOTICS EVER™ and all-natural chicken. Since acquiring Coleman Natural Foods in 2011, Perdue has become the leading producer of USDA-certified organic chicken and of chicken raised without any antibiotics, and has expanded into NO ANTIBIOTICS EVER™ pork.