Kroger is the place to go! It’s a well-known grocery store chain that sells a wide range of meats, such as bacon.
We will talk about the history of Kroger’s bacon and the pork industry in the United States in this article.
Now take a seat and prepare to learn about how your favorite breakfast meat gets from the farm to your plate.
As a bacon lover, I’m always curious about where my delicious fried pork strips are coming from Kroger is my go-to place for bacon, but I never really thought about the origins of their products until now. In this article, I’ll walk you through an in-depth investigation into where Kroger bacon comes from, from start to finish. Stick with me as we uncover the truth!
Kroger – The Go-To Bacon Destination
With over 2,700 stores across 35 states, Kroger is one of the largest grocery chains in the US. It’s my personal favorite for picking up bacon and other breakfast foods. But Kroger doesn’t actually produce their own bacon. They work with various suppliers and farmers across the country to stock their shelves.
Kroger claims their bacon is sourced sustainably and ethically from trusted partners But who are these partners? I decided to dig deeper to find out exactly where my beloved Kroger bacon originates from.
##Tracing The Supply Chain
After some digging, I found that Kroger works with numerous bacon suppliers, including major companies like Smithfield and smaller local farms. Here are some of the key suppliers:
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Smithfield Foods – The largest pork processor in the world. They have facilities across the US, including the world’s biggest pork plant in North Carolina.
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Greenfield Natural Meat Co. – Specializes in natural and organic meats. Supplies humanely raised pork for Kroger’s “Simple Truth” line.
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Olli Salumeria – An artisanal charcuterie company supplying premium deli meats. Provides Kroger with specialty bacon products.
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Local family farms – Kroger partners with small farmers across the country committed to sustainable practices.
It seems Kroger sources from a diverse network of large-scale meatpackers and small ethical farms. But where exactly do these suppliers get their pork from?
##Tracing Pork Origins
Many of Kroger’s bacon suppliers, like Smithfield Foods, operate large industrial pig farms. Most of their pork comes from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs).
These facilities have faced scrutiny for unethical practices like:
- Crowded, confined conditions
- Routine antibiotic use
- Pollution issues
However, Kroger also partners with local farms that offer a more sustainable, humane approach. These farmers may:
- Raise pigs on pasture
- Avoid antibiotics/hormones
- Use heritage breed pigs
While the specific farm sources vary regionally, it’s clear Kroger makes an effort to provide ethically raised bacon options beyond just industrial pork.
From Farm To Store: Processing And Packaging
Once pigs reach market weight, they are transported to processors like Smithfield to be slaughtered and butchered. The pork bellies go into curing vats before being smoked and sliced into bacon.
After packaging, the bacon makes its way to distribution centers and finally to our neighborhood Kroger stores. Each step of this process depends on Kroger’s network of suppliers working in unison to deliver the finished product.
As one of the nation’s largest grocers, Kroger has the purchasing power and supply infrastructure to stock its expansive bacon selection. They offer everything from budget bulk packs to pre-cooked, convenience options. However, for the bacon lover looking to know the origins of their meat, Kroger also provides transparency around their sources and farming partners.
Kroger – Doing Right By The Bacon Lover
While large industrial farms produce much of Kroger’s bacon, it’s encouraging to see them partner with local, sustainable pork producers as well. By offering bacon options from both small regenerative farms and major pork companies, Kroger allows customers to choose the level of transparency that fits their needs.
As a frequent Kroger shopper, I appreciate their effort to provide quality bacon, regardless of the specific source. But it’s always nice having visibility into where our food comes from when that information is available.
At the end of the day, we all just want tasty, reasonably priced bacon. And Kroger delivers on that front. We bacon lovers can cook up their products with confidence, knowing there are good options available for every budget and preference.
So next time you’re cooking up some delicious Kroger bacon, remember the complex supply chain that brought it to your plate! Appreciate all the farmers, butchers, distributors and grocers involved in getting you your Friday morning bacon, egg and cheese sandwich.
Kroger: A Popular Grocery Store Chain
Kroger is a well-known grocery store chain that has been around for more than 138 years in the US. The company was started by Bernard Kroger in 1883 in Cincinnati, Ohio. It now runs 2,720 grocery stores in 35 states and the District of Columbia under different names and divisions.
Kroger is known for its wide selection of products, including fresh produce, meat, dairy, and bakery items. The company takes pride in selling high-quality goods at low prices, which is why many shoppers love going there.
Aside from its grocery stores, Kroger also runs 33 factories, 1,629 supermarket fuel centers, 2,252 pharmacies, 225 The Little Clinic medical clinics inside its stores, and 129 jewelry stores. The company is one of the largest American-owned private employers in the United States and is ranked #.
Where Does Kroger Bacon Come From?
Kroger bacon is sourced from a variety of farms and processing facilities across the United States. The company is committed to providing high-quality meat products that are safe, healthy, and sustainably sourced.
To make sure that their bacon is made with the best ingredients, Kroger works with a number of reliable suppliers. These suppliers are located throughout the country, from North Carolina to California and everywhere in between.
One of Kroger’s key suppliers is Greenfield Natural Meat Co. , which produces a range of natural and organic meat products. Greenfield’s bacon is made from pork that wasn’t given antibiotics or hormones and is processed as little as possible to keep the flavor as high as possible.
Smithfield Foods, which runs several facilities in North Carolina, including the world’s largest pork processing plant, is another company that supplies Kroger with bacon. Smithfield makes a lot of different pork products, like bacon, with pigs from farms in North Carolina and other states.
Kroger also sources bacon from smaller, family-owned farms that are committed to sustainable and humane farming practices. Even though these farms are in different parts of the country, they all work hard to make sure their meat is of high quality and good for people and the environment.
Kroger – Why They’re Successful
Where can I buy Bacon at Kroger?
Shop for Bacon in our Meat & Seafood Department at Kroger. Buy products such as Kroger® Hardwood Smoked Sliced Bacon for in-store pickup, at home delivery, or create your shopping list today.
Does Kroger have a ‘Our Brands’ division?
As the head of Kroger’s “Our Brands” division, he’s charged with managing, developing — and yes, tasting — the retailer’s store brands, which cover several different lines and thousands of products, from Private Selection olive oil to Simple Truth organic baby food pouches.
Is Kroger a top grocer?
In an industry full of top performers, though, Kroger stands out. The nation’s largest grocer brings in more than $20 billion annually through its store brands. During the company’s most recent earnings call, CEO Rodney McMullen noted that its own brand products now account for 29.5% of unit sales and 26% of sales dollars.
Does Kroger outsource its products?
Kroger outsources a lot of the brand’s products, with more than 60% of its supply coming in from third-party manufacturers. However, the rest of the items are made in-house at the nearly 40 Kroger facilities that produce many products, including 18 dairy plants, nine bakeries, and seven grocery plants.
What is the difference between gourmet bacon and grocery store bacon?
One of the great distinctions between grocery store bacon and gourmet bacon is the robustness of flavor and it is for a very simple reason. Gourmet bacon is given more time to cure and typically more time in the smoker, yielding a much better, overall flavor.
Does Kroger have a dairy farm?
Kroger is one of the few retail chains that actually have their own dairy farms across the county to not only supply milk products but also bottle, label, and distribute their dairy. The company’s most modern and innovative plant was constructed in 1972 and was actually known for being the largest dairy plant in the world.